Telugu varsity to introduce Kuchipudi, Carnatic music for foreign students

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 21. Jnanpeeth awardee, Prof U. R. Anantha Murthy, who delivered the convocation address of the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University here on Thursday, made veiled criticism against the craze among people for English medium schools and multinational corporations (MNCs) and said, because of this, there is a danger of children getting alienated from the local language and culture.

The Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University has made preparations to introduce Kuchipudi dance and Carnatic music for foreign students, especially those in the US, and launch distance education in other disciplines, both to augment its resources.

According to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Dr N. Gopi, a survey on the feasibility of the above courses had been conducted already in the US and other countries and a network established. The syllabus is being finalised to suit the needs of foreign students in consultation with the American Institute of Indian Studies, Delhi, which is extending cooperation in the venture. A web page has been created for the purpose. The varsity will also raise funds by launching distance education and by telecasting 24 out of the 50 episodes on Doordarshan for the present, each filmed on a prominent Telugu personality such as Ravi Narayana Reddy, Gouthu Latchanna and Utukuri Lakshmikanthamma.

Presenting a report on the activities of the university at Ravindra Bharati, Dr Gopi said at Kuchipudi, birthplace of the dance in Krishna district, Sri Siddhendra Kala Kshetram was being developed into an international centre for this art. A masterplan for development of the place, costing Rs 2 crores, was submitted to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, and a favourable response was expected as the proposal was accompanied by a recommendation by the State Government. Right now, Rs 40 lakhs was available, given by three MPs out of their constituency development fund, a private individual, Mr Valluripalli Nageswara Rao, and the district Collector and, work on construction of the building would start soon.

A university complex would come up at Nagaram village near Keesara in Ranga Reddy district where 50 acres of land was given by the Government.

A Regional Research Centre for Folklife is being established at Warangal where the university is running its School of Folk and Tribal Lore. Dr C.Narayana Reddy, former Vice-Chancellor and now Rajya Sabha MP, has given Rs 30 lakhs out of his constituency development fund, while the Ford Foundation released Rs 35 lakhs out of the promised Rs 90 lakhs, and with this, building work would be started immediately, Dr Gopi said.

Detailing works done by International Telugu Institute, an extension of the university, the Vice-Chancellor said plans were afoot by the institute for conducting the fourth world Telugu conference and an all-India Telugu conference pending approval by the State Government. An advisory committee was constituted to advise the institute on these matters. Regarding exchange programme with other States, he mentioned the 15-day training programme conducted at Surat for Telugu teachers working in Gujarat besides translation of Gujarati books into Telugu, supply of textbooks to people at Salem in Tamil Nadu and conduct of regional Telugu conferences at Bangalore, Berhampur and Hosur.

Dr. Gopi said, four new awards were introduced by the university after Acharya G. Arunakumari, Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna, Abburi Ramakrishna Rao and Varadarajeswara Rao and Mikkilineni Seetaratnam Radharishna Murthy in novel, Andhra natyam, language and folk arts and with this, the total number of endowment awards of the university reached 24.

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Section  : Southern States
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