Mysuru
The proposed move to shift the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada (CESCK) in the century-old Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion got fresh traction with the elected representatives and varsity officials inspecting the premises on Saturday.
The inspection comes ahead of the scheduled visit of Minister for Kannada and Culture Mr. V. Sunil Kumar next week to inspect the premises.
The CESCK which was functioning under Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) till recently despite securing autonomous status a few years ago is currently functioning from the premises of the National Centre for History of Science building.
MP Pratap Simha, MLA L Nagendra and others have mooted that it would be ideal to shift the CESCK to the heritage building which also houses a folklore museum and is rooted in the traditions and language of the State. Sources said the century old heritage structure needs extensive renovation and could hold up the proposed shifting unless funds were released for the same and even if the funds are released, the restoration work will take time.
Simha hinted that funds had been assured by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the State Government would release Rs. 25 crore towards it.
The move is also expected to give a boost to the conservation of Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion which suffered widespread damages during the last two monsoons.
Incidentally, the University of Mysore too has allotted 4.2 acres of land for establishing the CESCK. The Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion was built in 1905 by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar for his daughter Jayalakshmi Ammani and was acquired by the University of Mysore and houses the folklore museum. Though it was restored with funding by Infosys Foundation in 2002, it requires additional intervention.
R Shivappa, Registrar, University of Mysore, Shailendra Mohan, Director, Central Institute of Indian Languages, MLA L. Nagendra and others were present.
