ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Karnatak University came into existence in 1949 to fulfill the Cultural Linguistic, Economi and Academic needs of the then Southern Maharastra or Bombay Karnataka region. Hence naturally Kannada was to be one of the Four Departments then established. When it was started it offered M.A. Literature in Kannada and had only one student to begin with. When it started Prof.T.N.Sreekantiah, a renowned scholar in Kannada Literature and Linguistics of Mysore University came on deputation to head the Department.

Dr. R.C.Hiremath was the only supporting staff in the  Department Dr. R.C. Hiremath was selected as reader in Kannada and he was instrumental in developing this small Department into an institute offering various P.G.Courses and centered of seminal Research in Kannada Literature (Jaina, Veershaiva, and Brahmana), linguistics and Folk Literature .Dr. R.C.Hiremath became the Vice-Chancellor  of Karnatak University, Dharwad and later he was appointed as Director of International School of Dravidian Linguistics, Trivendrum. Further the alumni of this institute Dr. Chandrashekar Kambar, Dr. M.M. Kalaburgi and Dr. A. Murigeppa later became the Vice- chancellors of Kannada University, Hampi. Later Dr. H. M. Maheshwariah Former Professor of our Department became the Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburgi.

This institute has teaching, research and publication activities. Teaching includes the different courses like M.A Kannada, M.A. Linguistics, M.A. Folk Literature (M.A. Folk Literature was stopped in 1996 as a new Department of Folklore was established and a paper in Folk Literature as one of the optional Paper was continued), P.G. Diploma courses in Translation, Linguistics, Basava Studies and Prachya Lekhana and Certificate courses in Kannada and Tamil Languages. Research Programmes include M.Phil. in Kannada and Ph.D. in Kannada and Linguistics and Research Projects of the faculty. Publications include publication of project works, special lectures. Translations and University journals, namely Kanataka Bharathi and Vidyarthi Bharathi especially meant for catering the needs of student-writers.