CIIL to head Centre for classical Kannada study

BANGALORE: The State Government's three year struggle to get benefits associated with classical language status to Kannada have started yielding results. For, the Union Government has decided to set up a Centre for study of Kannada as a classical language at Mysore that could facilitate research and other activities related to Kannada.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) had written a letter to the State Government on July 14 in this regard, also outlining the kind of activities that would be taken up by the Centre, which will function under the aegis of Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).

Addressing reporters here on Friday, Minister for Higher Education V S Acharya welcomed the decision while thanking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

Apart from being a facilitator for research activities, the Centre will also take up the responsibility of digitisation of Kannada manuscripts and publishing of Kannada classical volumes.

Three annual awards will be constituted by the Centre one for lifetime achievement and two for works of international acclaim. Each award will carry a cash prize of `5 lakh. Similarly, 10 awards for young achievers with a prize of `one lakh each will also be constituted.

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