Karnataka Folklore University

Karnataka Folklore University is established with a specific objective of providing in greater platform in Folklore Studies. Karnataka Janapada Vishwavidyalaya was established in 2011 by an act, The Karnataka Janapada Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyama 2011, of the Government of Karnataka to fulfill the long felt desire of folklorists of Karnataka and to develop Kannada folkloristics on scientific principles. Karnataka Janapada Vishwavidyalaya was established in 2011 by an act, The Karnataka Janapada Vishwavidyalaya Adhiniyama 2011, of the Government of Karnataka to fulfill the long felt desire of folklorists of Karnataka and to develop Kannada folkloristics on scientific principles.

The university is located at Gotagodi in an idyllic surrounding, in a transitional geographic setting between the leeward of the picturesque Sahyadri range to the west and the rolling plain of Northern Maidan on the east. The campus is located in the revenue limits of Shiggavi Taluk, Haveri District, Karnataka.

There can be no doubt that this university will bring to perspective the vibrant folk culture of Karnataka to topmost level of visibility among all other cultural forms of Karnataka and bring to fruition the meaningful initiative of the Government of Karnataka. At present in the whole of Asia this is the only university providing advanced teaching, learning and research opportunities to students of folklore and it has a commitment to excel in translating its vision and mission into reality.

Establishment of this university has certainly added a new dimension to higher education in Karnataka, worthy of emulation by other linguistic states of India, as the next frontier of inclusive studies of Kannada culture.

There is an urgent need of exploring the traditional art and cultural glory through research and it is needed to disseminate the abundant skill of specific arts, embedded in the life of the people of our land. There is an ample treasure of knowledge which is yet to be unveiled for the purpose of utilization. At this juncture the Folklore University is established.

Establish three distinctive and vital inter-related productive organs of the university — Adhyayanaanga, Samsodhanaanga and Prasaaraanga — under proactive Adalithaanga. Establish a broad-based indigenous science of folkloristics that will eventually provide disciplinary status to various branches of ‘ folklore, i.e. legends, myths, tales (short and tall), oral history, proverbs, riddles, jokes, popular beliefs, music, deities, etc., that are the traditions of a culture of a group, adornment, rituals, celebrations, knowledge systems (art, craft, technology, food, medicine, etc.). Work towards drafting a Folklore Preservation Act.

Since folkloristics shares methodologies and theoretical interests and approaches with cultural anthropologists, social historians, sociologists, sociolinguists, material culture scholars and scholars engaged in the study of the vernacular providing space for an interdisciplinary forum to evolve a high-quality dynamic course structure for both graduate studies and research will be carried out on priority.

Since folkloristics is primarily concerned with the role of vernacular cultural forms and practices in the making of social life, the Adhyayanaanga will formulate and disseminate courses at both graduate and postgraduate levels; the Samsodhanaanga will organize research at doctoral, postdoctoral and faculty levels; and the Prasaaraanga will disseminate through publication and outreach research findings to raise the level of awareness and concern among the people at large.

A separate department dedicated to the library, archive and information science will meet the requirements of the vital organs of the university that will ensure the steady growth of the academic productivity of the University. Special outreach activity will include extension lectures, regional centres, interactive museums and exhibitions as both on and off campus activities.