T.C. Shivashankara Murthy, Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University, T.S. Nagabharana, film director, and Thukaram Poojary, president of the Rani Abbakka Tulu Adhyayana Kendra, at an exhibition at the five-day art camp which began on Saturday at B.C. Road near Mangalore. Photo: H.S. Manjunath

Mangalore University will offer postgraduate diploma, diploma and certificate courses on Tulu language from the next academic year.

This was stated by Vice-Chancellor T.C. Shivashankara Murthy while inaugurating a five-day art camp organised by the Rani Abbakka Tulu Adhyayana Kendra at Sanchayagiri, B.C. Road, on Saturday.

Prof. Murthy said the syllabus and regulations related to the three courses had already been sent to the Government for its approval two weeks ago. Once the varsity got the green signal, the courses would be offered in some of the 187 colleges affiliated to the university.

There was shortage of teachers while a decision to introduce Tulu language as a subject in schools was taken. The three courses offered by the university would now fill this gap. There was also a demand from a few colleges to start these courses, he said.

The university had an Adhyayana Kendra (study centre) on Tulu which played a key role in the proposed introduction of the courses. The faculty available with the kendra would offer their services to teach the three courses to the prospective students.

He said the kendra had funds which would be used to promote Tulu research in association with different organisations. The university had many study centres that promoted culture and literature of the coastal region and Yakshagana, Prof. Murthy said.

Prof. Murthy said the 24 artists who depicted the life and struggles of Rani Abbakka had a challenging task. They had to recreate situations of the past without compromising on the historically proven facts. The life of the queen was an inspiration for women.

“Though we have progressed in different fields, we have lagged behind in preserving our literature and culture.” Prof. Murthy hoped that the art camp and the efforts of the kendra would help in this regard.

President of the kendra, Thukaram Poojary, regretted that people did not have regard for the traditions. People could draw lessons for their future from them, he observed. He said there was a plan to launch an art gallery and a library on the premises of the kendra. There was also a plan to recreate a “Tulu village”.

President of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy and film director T.S. Nagabharana, Bantwal MLA B. Ramanath Rai were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / News> Cities> Mangalore / by Staff  Correspondent / Mangalore, December 25th, 2011