Kannada University

About Kannada University

Kannada University was established through the Kannada University Act 1991 established at Hampi, in 1991.The demand for such a University was there in Karnataka since the mid 1980s but it took a while before it got established. Towards this effect, the Government of Karnataka established a commission under the chairmanship of Sadashiva Wodeyar. This Committee after consulting various intellectuals, education experts, political thinkers, social activists, literary personalities and representatives of people came out with a report and recommended the establishment of the much-needed Kannada University. Initially, its campus was established at stonemantapas of Hampi, but later on in 1994, the campus was shifted to Vidyaranya. There are two more satellite campuses: one in Badami (125 Kms away from Hampi), an historical place, where the Department of Sculpture and Visual Arts is located; and the other at Kuppalli, the birth place of the poet Kuvepmu, where the Kuvempu Research Centre is located. The present campus of Kannada University spans a hilly terrain of 700 acres situated amidst a natural forest and beautiful lake. The special feature of the Hampi campus it that it is located on a valley setting with fairly thick vegetation preserving many of the indigenous tree, shrub and grass species. A small brook runs through the campus. The campus is named Vidyaranya after the 'founder-Guru' of Vijayanagara Empire. It also means the forest of knowledge. The newly constructed buildings of Kannada University blend into the ambience of the architecture of Hampi historical structures. The University authorities have very thoughtfully selected these ridges for constructing various buildings. The architecture of some of these buildings is also noteworthy, as it has taken many elements from the vijayanagara diction of architecture. Some of the buildings are named after key personalities of the medieval empire, like the Kriyashakthi which is the name of administrative building. Kriyashakthi was an important guru in the history of Vijayanagara Empire and it means ‘The Power of Action’. Another notable features of the institute are the buildings of the Tribal Studies Department which have been constructed keeping in view the tribal housing structures. In short the campus has several unique features of its own, adopted from the natural and historic-cultural heritage of the region.

Single evaluation is adopted in the case of UG courses (in Music and Visual Arts), while double evaluation (if necessary, a third one), comprising one internal and one external evaluation, is followed for PG courses. In the case of the Ph.D. Programme, the University adopts, like most others, two external and one internal evaluation. The process is completed by open defence. The University adopts both central and door evaluation and question papers are set unit-wise in order to cover all prescribed topics in respective papers. Apart from this, the evaluation procedures incorporate regular assignments and seminars by the PG and Ph.D. students; bi-annual evaluation Ph.D. students on the basis of written notes presented by them etc., thus bringing in it elements of regularity and continuity in evaluation procedures.

Faculties and Departments at Kannada University

Facilities at Kannada University

Hostels - The campus has a provision for some faculty quarters that are temporarily used as hostels for students.

Libraries – Akshara meaning ‘Alphabetic Letter is the name of the main library building. It is located on the first floor of a large building. The library is well maintained and has a total collection of about 45,000books. It subscribes to 37 journals in English and 31 journals in Kannada. The library has also a good section for manuscripts including an audio-video section. All departments in the university also have their own, small, libraries, which are used for references sources by both the faculty and students.

Prasaranga - Prasaranga is the publication department of the university. Apart from publication of scholarly works it has taken up publication of textbooks of science and social science in colleges. The First and Second Pre-University Social science and Science textbooks have been translated in Kannada for the larger benefit of local students. These have helped a large number of students as it happens to be the language they are most familiar with.

Journals - The Kannada University also publishes various journals: Kannada Adhyayana (Kannada Studies), Mahila adhyayana (Women Studies), Janapada Karnataka (Folklore of Karnataka), Budakattu Karnataka (Tribal Karnataka), Karnataka Adhyayana (Karnataka studies), Namma Kannada (Our Kannada, devoted to Kannada Linguistics) these have been not just journals but platforms for the scholars who are working in these areas. These journals are first of their kind, as for the first time specialized journals are brought out in Kannada. In order to reach the non-Kannada audience, the University is bringing out a journal in English "Journal of Karnataka Studies", the first issue is under preparation.

Periodicals - Along with these scholarly journals Prasaranga publishes periodicals of the University like Vijnana Sangati (A Companion to Science), Pustaka Mahiti (Book-information), Cheluva Kannada (University news-letter).

Distance Education Centre - The University has a Distance Education Centre for spreading knowledge to a wider section of the society. The Centre offers about 12 post-graduate diploma courses, two post-metric courses and one certificate course.

Sports Centre - There is also a small sports centre on the campus with facilities available for indoor and outdoor games for both students and staff.

Computing Facilities - The main administrative building of the University has a computer unit operating with ten computers. A few Departments are also provided with a computer each.

Information Centre - The Information Centre of the University is a unique centre which is seldom found in the university system elsewhere. The centre provided free information on the university and the state of Karnataka.

Social Work - The University has adopted a school in the neighbourhood with an aim of developing the local communities. The university also gives counselling to Grama Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats as part of its extension activity.

Sculptors and Painters Camps - The Department of Sculpture and Painting organises sculptors and painters camps at National and International levels. This provides a good occasion to staff and students to keep abreast of the latest developments in the contemporary art scene. Traditional artists are also involved in regular teaching work and this enables the students to become familiar with traditional techniques of the area. Both teachers and students exhibit their works at state and national levels and have won several awards in painting and sculpture. Alongside with this, research activity has been given full importance. The topics covered include prehistoric to classical traditions of the area.

Girisime – Girisime is the name of the tribal village which is a mini campus. It houses the department of Tribal studies. The buildings, or rather hut-like structures in this mini-campus, are modelled on the houses of different tribes of Karnataka.

Museum - The University has a large museum which displays both archaeological materials collected from various places in north Karnataka and also a folk section containing fishing and hunting items of some of the surviving simple communities.

Funds - The University receives grants mainly from the state Government and some small assistance from the central government as well. The research projects are taken up with an assistance of funding agencies such as UGC, ICSSR, ICHR, Central and State Sahitya Academy, Kannada development Authority, IGNCA and such others. The University has set up a permanent fund with the donations from NRIs, which are used for research, development, publication and spread of knowledge. The University makes some allocation of funds to each department for research and holding seminars/workshops.

Remedial Coaching - The under privileged SC/ST students are given remedial coaching.

Bhuvana Vijaya - Bhuvana Vijaya means ‘The abode of Victory’, it is the name of the indoor auditorium for academic and cultural activities.

Pampa Sabhangana - Pampa Sabhangana is the local name of the Pampa Seminar Hall. It is named after the Poet of the first available epic of 10^th century in Kannada Literature. It is use for intellectual deliberations on various issues in the form of seminars, conferences, workshops, special lectures all through the year.

Navaranga – Navaranga means ‘Nine Colours’ which is the name of the open-air auditorium resembling Greek theatre situated on the banks of the lake.

Helipad - The university campus has a helipad bed of its own and it is used for receiving high dignitaries.