MUMBAI — In a swift and decisive move to expand its cultural footprint beyond its homeland, the central leadership of Jai Tulunad (R.) convened an emergency virtual assembly via Google Meet on the evening of August 15, 2026. The high-profile session brought together key central figures, founders, and enthusiastic diaspora members to chart out a roadmap for a dedicated Mumbai branch.

The meeting was headed under the presence of Central Committee President Ashwath Tuluve Kudla and General Secretary Sukesh Kemmai Puttur, alongside prominent Founder Committee members including Uday Poonja Mulki, Kiran Tuluve Mulki, Sharath Kodavoor Bengaluru, Rakshith Raj Kudla, Yathish Kumar Bengaluru, Sadashiva Mudradi Hebri, and Sumanth Hebri (USA).

Bridging the Diaspora- Central Hub Chosen for Accessibility:
Recognizing that the Tulu-speaking diaspora is widely dispersed across various suburban and metropolitan pockets of Maharashtra’s capital, committee members deliberated extensively on logistics. To ensure maximum participation and convenience for working professionals and families, consensus was reached to set up the new headquarters in a centrally accessible location within Mumbai.

To fast-track the establishment, core committee members from Tulunad announced plans to travel directly to Mumbai, offering robust groundwork support, administrative guidance, and organizational strength to local volunteers.

Overcoming Urban Hurdles:
Addressing the assembly, leaders noted that fostering community partnerships in a bustling metropolis like Mumbai presents distinct structural and logistical challenges compared to grassroots mobilization back in Tulunad. However, active participation from prominent Mumbai-based general members—including D.K. Shetty, Deju Shetty, Shilpa Santhosh Shetty, Manjunatha Shetty, Shashikala Y. Bangera, Usha Suvarna, alongside Deekshitha Madhya Surathkal—demonstrated immense local enthusiasm to overcome these barriers.

Reviving the Mother Tongue: Uniform Script & Teacher Training:
Beyond structural expansion, the meeting placed heavy emphasis on linguistic preservation:

Refining Literacy: The committee noted that many diaspora members who independently picked up the Tulu script expressed a strong desire to re-enroll in structured classes.

Standardized Curriculum: To eradicate discrepancies, all upcoming educational modules will strictly utilize a Tulu Academy-approved script to maintain universal uniformity.

Mumbai Educator Empowerment: A dedicated Teacher Training Program was greenlit to train local instructors, enabling them to launch localized learning hubs across different neighborhoods in Maharashtra.

With strong administrative backing from the homeland and an eager local diaspora, the new Mumbai chapter of Jai Tulunad is poised to become a vibrant cultural anchor for the community in the region.