Abbakka Tulu Centre adds library to aid research

In what may re-kindle history lovers’ interest in studying Tulu Nadu, a vast library complex with 4,000 research materials has been newly added to Rani Abbakka Tulu Adhyayana Kendra and Tulu Baduku Vasthu Sangrahalaya at Bantwal. Prof Thukaram Poojary, who head of Department of History at SVS College, Bantwal, has developed the Kendra as president, with his wife Dr Ashalatha S Suvarna as its general secretary. He said on Tuesday, the library named after veteran Tuluva S U Paniyadi will be dedicated on at 10.30 am April 1.

Research materials
Poojary said, the addition is intended at promoting the museum as a stop for advanced studies. With a vast collection of books, documents and inscriptions in the range of 3,500 to 4,000, it boasts of rare works of Basel Mission in English. The materials are in mainly Tulu, followed by Kannada, Malayalam and English. The complex includes a numismatics centre, guest room, seminar hall and extended museum on lifestyle of Tuluvas. An estimated Rs three crore was spent on the facility. Poojary bore the expenditure with the help of like-minded persons and also philanthropists, without expecting any funds from the government.

Dharmastala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade will inaugurate the library. The district unit of Janapada Parishat will be inaugurated on April 2. The director, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manava Vasthu Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, will inaugurate the Parishat on April 3. Indira Balakrishna (daughter of folk expert H L Nage Gowda of Janapada Loka) will deliver introductory address. Former VC of Karnataka Folklore University Prof K Chinnappa Gowda will deliver a special lecture.

A two-day national seminar on ‘Writing social history: Source matters’ will be inaugurated by registrar of Karnataka State Gangubai Hanagal Music and Performing Arts University Dr Niranjan Vanalli on April 3.