Overview
Dravidian University is a state public university located in Kuppam, Chittoor district, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The university was established with the distinctive mandate of promoting the study of the Dravidian languages, literatures, cultures and the social and philosophical traditions associated with the Dravidian-speaking peoples of South India and Sri Lanka. It is situated near the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, a location chosen to reflect its inter-state and inter-cultural focus.
Key facts
| Name | Dravidian University |
|---|---|
| Type | State public university |
| Location | Kuppam, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Focus | Dravidian languages, literature and culture |
| Country | India |
Background
The idea of a university devoted to the comparative study of the Dravidian family of languages — principally Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam, along with related languages such as Tulu, Kodava and others — emerged from long-standing scholarly and political interest in a shared South Indian cultural sphere. Dravidian University was founded as a co-operative initiative supported by the southern states, with Andhra Pradesh as the host state. Kuppam, lying close to the borders of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, was selected as the seat of the university to symbolise this collaborative character.
Academic profile
The university offers postgraduate, M.Phil. and doctoral programmes through faculties and schools covering the humanities, social sciences, sciences, management, education and language studies. Its core academic identity is built around departments dedicated to the major Dravidian languages and to comparative Dravidian studies, including translation, folklore, tribal studies and cultural studies. In addition, the university runs programmes in disciplines such as biosciences, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, commerce, management, journalism and education in order to function as a full-fledged general university.
Research and outreach
Dravidian University has placed a particular emphasis on translation between the Dravidian languages, on the documentation of lesser-studied languages and oral traditions, and on the publication of dictionaries, source texts and comparative studies. It also conducts research on tribal communities of South India and on aspects of South Indian history, philosophy and performing arts.
Campus
The main campus is located on the outskirts of Kuppam, a town in the southern part of Chittoor district that is well connected by rail and road to Bengaluru, Chennai and Tirupati. The campus houses academic departments, administrative buildings, hostels, a central library and sports facilities.
Affiliation and recognition
Dravidian University is a state university established by an Act of the Andhra Pradesh state legislature and is recognised by the University Grants Commission of India. Apart from on-campus teaching and research, the university has at various times offered programmes through a distance education mode and through affiliated and recognised study centres.
Significance
Dravidian University is one of the few Indian universities whose primary academic mission is defined by a language family rather than by a single state, region or discipline. By bringing together the study of Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and other Dravidian languages within a single institutional framework, it occupies a distinctive place among Indian centres of language and area studies, and contributes to comparative literary, linguistic and cultural scholarship in South India.
Related topics
- Kuppam
- Chittoor district
- Andhra Pradesh
- Dravidian languages
- List of universities in Andhra Pradesh
- University Grants Commission (India)
References
- Wikidata: Dravidian University (Q3520936)