After Tulu language recognition, SDPI seeks official language status for Urdu in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Following the recent decision to recognise “Tulu” as an additional official language in Mangaluru and Udupi districts, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has demanded that the state government grant official language status to Urdu across Karnataka.
In an open letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, SDPI Karnataka State president Abdul Majeed on Monday said recognising languages, cultures and linguistic identities was essential to strengthening Karnataka’s pluralistic and democratic traditions. The Karnataka Cabinet recently approved the use of Tulu as an additional official language for administrative purposes in Karnataka and Udupi.
Majeed said Urdu had a long-standing presence in Karnataka and had contributed significantly to the state’s linguistic and cultural diversity. He pointed to its literary tradition, newspapers and publications, educational institutions and cultural and historical legacy.
Citing 2011 Census data, Majeed said Urdu was among the major mother tongues recorded in Karnataka. He also referred to 2024-25 school education data, according to which there were 3,934 government Urdu-medium schools and 302 aided Urdu-medium schools in the state.
He said the decline in student enrolment in Urdu-medium schools required immediate attention and urged the government to strengthen such institutions by providing adequate infrastructure, educational facilities and other necessary amenities.
“Karnataka is a multilingual state and respecting the rights of one language should not become a reason to deny the rights of another,” the SDPI said, according to its representation.
Majeed said Kannada was the principal language of Karnataka and deserved its rightful place, but recognition of other languages spoken by substantial sections of the population would not diminish the status of Kannada.
He argued that if Tulu, which has deep cultural and historical roots in coastal Karnataka, could receive additional official language recognition, the same principle should be extended to Urdu, which has a significant number of speakers and an established educational and literary presence in the state.
The SDPI cited Article 345 of the Constitution, which empowers a state legislature to adopt, through law, one or more languages in use in the state for all or any official purposes.
Majeed also cited Telangana as an example of multilingual governance, where Urdu has been recognised as a second official language. He said Karnataka could develop an administrative framework suited to its linguistic diversity.
The SDPI also urged the government to protect the educational rights of linguistic minorities and ensure that Urdu-medium schools receive adequate teachers, infrastructure and other facilities.
The party said its demand for Urdu recognition was not against the development or recognition of Tulu, but was aimed at ensuring equal consideration for the linguistic and educational rights of Urdu-speaking people in Karnataka.
