Which of the First Kannada University?

hi

On receiving the Self-Study Report submitted by Kannada University, Hampi (Karnataka) expressing its desire to be assessed and accredited by NAAC, the latter constituted a team of Peers consisting of Prof.

Pabitra Bushan Sarkar, Vice-chairman, West Bangal State Council for Higher Education, Kolkata and Former Vice-chancellor, Rabindra Bharathi University, Kolkata as Chairman and Prof. J.M. Naidu, Former Registrar and Professor of Anthropology, Andhra University, Vishakapatnam, Prof. K. Paddayya, Professor of Geo-Archaeology, Deccan College, Puna, Prof. B.S. Sharma, Head, Dept.

Visual Arts, Banasthali Vidyapeetha, Rajasthan and Prof. K. Nagaraj, Department of Economics, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai as members visited the University from January 29th-Februay 1st 2003. The visit was co-ordinate by Mr. B.S. Madhukar, Deputy Adviser, NAAC.

The following are the observations made by the Team after a visit and examination of the facilities prevailing at the University.

Our examination of the Self-Study Report of Kannada University presented in three parts gives only a partial idea of its uniqueness until we visited it in person and saw with our own eyes its physical environments and felt, after holding discussions with the Vice Chancellor, teachers, members of the Syndicate, students, administrative and service staff, and some others interested in the Progress of the University, the kind of idealism and vision with which the University was planned and given shape.

the members of the Peer Team kept in mind the objectives of the University as spelled out in the Kannada vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyama (Karnataka Act 23 of 1991) on the basis of which the University was established, with Dr. Chandrashekhara Kambara as the Special Officer, later appointed the first Vice Chancellor of the new University. Dr. Kambar gave definite directions in which the University was to grow and progress and his successor Dr. Kalburgi translated many of his dreams into reality. The present Vice Chancellor, Dr. Lakkappa Gowda is continuing and expanding their work with verve and tenacity, further elaborating the dream.

The Objectives were clearly spelt out in Chapter II of the said Act. We quote only some of them in order to remind ourselves that this University is a special kind of institution, and stands far apart from a conventional university. The Act enjoined that this University: “should functions as a high level research center in Kannada Language and Literature”.

Further, it is to impart training to those desirous of studying Kannada Language and Literature. In addition, it has “to facilitate and regulate advanced study and research in fields like Art, Archeology, Architecture, Literature, Grammar, Linguistics, Epigraphy, History, Religion Philosophy, Geography, Earth Sciences, Astronomy, Ayurveda, Siddha Medicine, Handicraft, Engineering Sciences and any other Science that have developed in Kannada Language and Literature”.

We need not quote from the Act all the objective enlisted in the same chapter to understand the unique nature of the Institution.

A look at how it has evolved in about a decade is sufficient to reinforce that understanding. Located in a spacious and attractive natural setting at Hampi, a place, which, in spite of its economic backwardness today, still retains the memory of the high glory of the Vijayanagara Kingdom, whose relics are found everywhere in the locality.

The University has a well-planned procedure for devising new teaching programmes and for revising and updating the curricula of existing courses. There is 30% representation each for teaching, fieldwork and project work in the various teaching/research plans.

This is one sphere of academic activity is which the Kannada University has done extremely well. Notwithstanding that this University is a very young institution, the faculty of various departments have so far carried out about 300 research projects.

One is also quite impressed by the wide range of topics covered by these research projects. These include archaeological monuments, inscriptions, ancient tanks, various aspects of Kannada language, literature, Karnataka history, folklore, development studies including water filtration projects in villages, folk agriculture terms, manuscriptology, various items pertaining to tribal and women studies, art education etc. The range of topics covered by the external scholars is also quite impressive.

In addition to these projects, the University has published Encyclopedias of Language, Handicrafts, Religion and History. Several encyclopedias have already been published and some are under preparation.

This research record of the University is all the more creditable, considering the fact the University did not receive any specific research grant from the State Government. The faculty had to depend entirely upon a small development grant from the University and whatever resources that could be mobilized from other organizations.

The most striking aspect of the research programme of the University is perhaps that their results are not only meant for higher academic purposes, but also oriented towards benefiting and enlightening the society in general. Concerted efforts have been made by the University to publish the findings in the form of reports and monographs and popular dissemination of the finding through the Press is done on an extensive scale.

The publication wing of the university called prasaranga deserves a very special mention in this respect. It has emerged as one of the major publishing houses Karnataka, publishing a book a week.

In addition to monographs and project reports, Prasaranga publishers number journals devoted to Kannada studies, folklore, Karnataka studies and Dravidian studies. The Peer Team notes with satisfaction that the University is planning to bring out a journal in English very soon entitle Journal of Karnataka Studies.

The Publication unit also brings out two or three periodicals and has also taken up publication of textbooks for the benefit of University students.