Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Sep 24: Nitte University will celebrate Tulu Dina on September 28, along with Amritha Nempu in memory of renowned Tulu poet Dr Amrita Someshwara. As part of the celebrations, Ilesa - The Voice of Ocean will release the Koraga song ‘Koojina Paatu’. Additionally, books written by Dr Amrita Someshwara will be handed over to Nitte University in his memory.

The event will be presided over by Dr Satish Kumar Bhandary, former president of Nitte University. Chief guests will include Dr Chethan Someshwar, son of the late Dr Amrita Someshwara, Prof Dr Gopal Mogeraya of Nitte University, and renowned Kannada and Tulu music director V Manohar. This information was shared by Dr Niranjan N Chiploonkar, principal of Nitte University, and Prof Dr Harsha Halahalli, chancellor of the university.

The event will be jointly coordinated by Dr Saigeetha Hegde, Shashikumar Shetty, Dr Narasimha Bailkeri, and Dr Rameshchandra Anant Rao from Ilesa, along with poet Shantaram Shetty. Gopal Patte and Vivekananda Mandekara will handle the technical aspects. Ilesa singers including Sudhakar Shetty, Dr Susheela, Prakash Pavanje, Atmaram Alva, Suma Kote, and Ajesh Charmady will perform literary songs written by Dr Amrita Someshwara. Palli Vishwanatha Shetty and Narendra Kabbinale will also contribute, as shared by Ilesa media coordinator Surendra Marnadu.

Koojina Paatu, a Koraga song celebrating the birth of a baby girl, is the first of its kind from the Koraga community, which has deep roots in Tulunadu. Pangala Babu Koraga, who has extensively studied Koraga literature, wrote the lyrics, while renowned music director V Manohar composed the original music reflecting the tribal culture. The song is sung by emerging Mangaluru singer Chethan Kushi Kulal and is sponsored by Kishore Shetty, general counsel of Sheydar Electric Group, through Ilesa, with the aim of preserving the Koraga language, a vital part of Tulunadu's heritage.