Kodava Culture Foundation mooted at Kodagu University

Madikeri: A proposal has been submitted to the state govt to establish a model Kodava Culture Foundation at Kodagu University as a permanent, research-driven and community-linked institution, backed by a Rs 10-crore endowment.Vice-chancellor Ashoka Sangappa Alura said only the annual interest or investment income from the corpus would be used for the foundation's activities, ensuring long-term financial sustainability.The foundation is proposed to be established with statutory approval under the Karnataka State Universities framework. It is envisaged as a centre for research, policy support, language revitalisation, digital archiving and youth outreach.One of the key components is a digital-first archive documenting oral histories, family records, inscriptions, songs, rituals, photographs, manuscripts, maps and audiovisual material. The proposal also includes a community research network involving scholars, artists, retired officers, agriculturists and temple custodians.Other planned units include living culture labs in villages, a genealogy and heritage cell, a translation and publication wing, youth fellowships, a policy and advocacy desk and a cultural entrepreneurship wing. An annual Kodava Knowledge Congress has also been proposed.To mobilise resources, the university has suggested a govt matching grant model, CSR outreach, diaspora campaigns and memorial endowments, with audited donor reports and an online transparency dashboard. The proposed administrative structure includes a chair professor or director, research associates, an archivist, a language officer, and a finance officer.Virajpet MLA and chief minister's legal advisor Ajjikuttira SPonnanna said he would support the initiative individually and said govt cooperation would be essential for launching the project.