Dravidian University

The Dravidian University was established by the Government of Andhra Pradesh through a Legislature Act (No. 17 of 1997) at Kuppam, a tri-lingual junction in the southwestern part of Andhra Pradesh with the initial support 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.

This is the year of Decennial Celebrations and the University is proud to have initiated several developmental activities. The two departments with which the University began in 1997 has today as many as seventeen departments and five centres. The University is on fast track growth with several buildings coming up.

Dravidian University is an outcome of a dream, a great vision aiming to integrate people of sister languages though identified differently, but belonging to the same cultural roots. Though they sound different, their meaning and soul is one. The Dravidian family of languages now established to be around 27 is the one of the oldest civilisations of the world, perhaps the only extant with richness of its ancient character.

It has been the endeavour of the university to strengthen the age old linguistic, cultural, emotional and geographical bonds among the Dravidians and promote a spirit of integration through research.

India as a nation, distinguishes itself for its continuous phenomenon of cultural integration. Several cultures and language families have contributed richly to the cultural mosaic of the nation. Dravidian Languages made predominant and pioneering contribution to the foundations of Indian civilization. It is a search for roots, a service to the rural community. The perspectives of the redefined goals of higher education mark the vision of the Dravidian University, uniquely distinct in the galaxy of Universities in Andhra Pradesh.

The 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. It is envisaged as a collaborative venture of all the four southern states with a motto of integrating the different linguistic groups of the Dravidian family, which have made rich historical contributions to the cultural mosaic of the country.

The spirit of integration is the guiding force behind the creation of the University. The linguistic and cultural integration, not at the regional, but at the national level, is the cherished objective of the University. Among the world’s language families the Dravidian family of languages enjoys a special place of distinction with an ancient origin and a continuation of a greater civilization.

An Institution with Distinct Character

Fulfilling the long felt intellectual call for a national institution to conduct study and research both at home and abroad in these ancient languages and to promote a greater sense of fraternity and spirit of integration among the speakers of the major Dravidian languages in the South the Government of Andhra Pradesh has benevolently come forward to establish Dravidian University through a Legislative Act in October 1997 involving the support of the other Southern States, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

The principle objective of the establishment of the Dravidian University is to promote integrated studies on the common heritage of the Dravidian speakers facilitating a strong perception of oneness among them.

Every language is a clean mirror holding a complete picture of culture. Languages are living voices of the races sounding their human, personal, social and scientific thoughts.

Dravidian civilization is one of the very oldest civilizations of the entire world. Archaeologists point out that the African continent was one with the South Indian Sub-Continent. It was the Indian Ocean that made a cleft. The synonymous words and phrases still in use stand a testimony to it. Linguists found out resemblances between languages. The current researchers listed out 27 Dravidian languages spread across from Cape Camorin to Afghanistan.

The sole objective of the University is to inculcate the spirit of national integration. Its tools are research, lectures, translation and publications.

The Andhra Pradesh Government gifted a vast land of 1093 acres for the University under the leadership of Sri Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy. Successive Chief Ministers Sri N Chandra Babu Naidu and Sri Y S Rajasekhara Reddy saw to the University growing from strength to strength.

The University which had functioned with only 5 Departments, 3 P.G and 5 U.G. courses upto 2004 has already obtained U.G.C. 12B recognition for grants.Now the University has more than 24 courses/ departments. The 21st Century Gurukulam was another feather in the cap. An extra 3 crores were spent on new buildings. Separate hostels for men and women students too came up.

Now we have 24 Departments / courses and 6 Centres. U.G.C has generously granted funds at the near closing of its 10th Plan.

University has come out with a Vision Document for the next 5 years. As a first step of the Document, Curriculum Development was achieved by way of 5 year Integrated Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). Dravidian University was the first to adopt CBSC in the entire State of Andhra Pradesh.

Additional Soft Skills Enhancement Training (ASSET) has been made a part of CBCS. The skills are: Communication, Computer, Analytical, Personality Development, and Career Perspectives.