Dravidian Language family is one of the most traditional language groups in the world. There are 27 well-identified languages in Dravidian Family. Out of these 27, only four (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada) are developed and sustained with good history until date. Because of time, these major Dravidian languages are separated and developed their own histories. In addition, people who are all united as a Dravidian family has been divided into individual language speaking clusters. In the stage like this, an integrated body is required to find the common properties, specialties and to achieve some higher objectives in the Dravidian culture. To fulfill these requirements and to develop national integration through language integration, Dravidian University is established.
This University is situated in a trilingual junction called "Kuppam". Even if the city is located in the state of Andhra pradesh, people speaking Tamil, Telugu and Kannada are residing all over the city, hence the name trilingual junction is given. This adds the pride to the Dravidian University and explains the real meaning of it. The Dravidian University was established on the year 1997 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh with the supports extended by the governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala for an integrated development of Dravidian languages, thus paving way for cultural and emotional integration of all the regions that carry forward the ancient historical torch of the nation.
Dravidian University is working on, finding and empowering common features in cultural, literature and historical areas among Dravidian languages. The main objective of the University is to develop integration between Dravidian languages. Though 27 languages are identified as Dravidian languages, only four of them are sustained with well-formed scripts. Other languages are faded out and unable to create any particular scripts for their languages. This happened because the languages are spoken by socio-economic backward people. Tulu is one of such languages. Though languages like this doesn't have any written tradition. They have a rich oral tradition. There is a great historical need and responsibility for the entire nation to equip them. Dravidian University is established a Tulu language studies for the first time in the nation. This is a progressive step towards protecting languages fading out.
Dravidian University is developing educational tools and modern perspectives to the languages spoken by socio economic people also to the people. At the same time duly preserving their cultural identity in other words our cultural roots. By performing this kind of works, Dravidian University is involved effectively in Dravidian basics, cultural roots and preserving it. The foremost objective of Dravidian University is to develop integration among the Dravidian languages and realize the true spirit of language integration.
Also they are focusing on international perspectives of Dravidian Research, modern perceptions of higher learning and regional demands of a backward rural area-three distinctly different dimensions have fused into one that led to the formation of Dravidian University, multiplying its obligations and responsibilities by manifold, much different from other universities. This University is easily reachable from the metros Chennai and Bangalore.
There are several individual departments like, School of Comparative Literary and Translation Studies, School of Human and Social Sciences, School of Comparative Dravidian Arts and Aesthetics, School of Education and Human Resources Development, School of Information, Science and Technology, School/Institute of Dravidian Native Medicinal Systems and Nature Cure. All these have their sub departments. In addition, a publication named 'Prasaaranga' and a translation bureau named 'Anusrujana' is also established.
Publications will be brought out in all four major Dravidian languages and English, besides a few more popular languages at the national level for popularizing studies in Dravidology. Translation bureau is happens to be a very important section in the University. Because integration obtains it's full meaning only when literature treasures are shared between languages. Therefore, translation bureau gains its importance. Translation department aims to develop an exchange of knowledge and resources by undertaking the translation of all classics and modern masterpieces. It also aims at preparing monographs, glossaries and Dictionaries.
The University offers many scholarships and fellowships to students and research scholars to encourage Dravidian language studies. Even Scholarships are given to foreign scholars those are interested in Dravidian culture. Growth of this University is very much essential for the Dravidian languages and Dravidian culture. Let us wish Dravidian University to be developed as a common base to learn, to research, to empower Dravidian languages. For more details about the University www.dravidianuniversity.ac.in... |