Interstate Stone Sculpting Camp - Andhra Pradesh
Dravidian University
The Dravidian University is located in Kuppam city of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established for the integrated development of Dravidian languages and culture by the Government of Andhra Pradesh through a Legislature Act with the initial support extended by the governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. The university began functioning with two departments in 1998 and has grown into a vital institution of 20 academic departments and six research centers. Dravidian University’s prime objective is to study Dravidian Culture, which includes all aspects of life and history. The Department of Folklore and Tribal Studies is the Dravidian University’s primary branch, which serves its primary purpose. Folklore touches all aspects of a given society’s life hence; the study of the culture of a society cannot be completed without the study of folklore.
Vice-Chancellor of Dravidian University:
Professor E. Sathyanaryana is briefing information about Dravidian University. Late N. T. Ramarao, a missionary, actor, and former Chief Minister, founded the university. The main interest of this university is to promote Dravidian languages. The university started with two departments, and now it has grown up to 30 departments. There are around 500 employees and about 100 students in the university. They have published several books in Dravidian languages, which might be around 300 in numbers that are known as 'Prasar Ranga’. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is giving importance to make this university a central university in the future. About Shilpakala academy, his point of view is to stimulate interest among the students to generate creativity and passion for their future growth by taking the sculptors' inspiration and their work. The Sculptors are scholars from Shilpakala Academy who have magnified skills to sculpt rock into a statue with a feel of life present in it.
Registrar of Dravidian University:
Professor Tirupathi Rao’s point of view on Shilpakala Academy is dedicated to the given work. The task of sculpting stone is not only a job but also a creative shape of the statue. He believes that the sculpture that is being sculpted gives grandeurs looks for the university. The statues reflect the culture of the Dravidian style and bring an atmosphere to Dravidian University.
Co-Ordinator of Shilpakala Academy Camp:
Professor Sharadha is a dean of Kannada literature at Dravidian university. She had taken all the precautions to bring Shilpakala Academy to their university. The previous work of Shilpakala Academy inspired her at Bijapur University and Karnataka University at Dharwad. Later she tried contacting the Shilpakala Academy President. She received a quick response to the camp and got the date sanctioned. Professor E. Sathyanaryana (VC), Professor Tirupathi Rao (Registrar), and Professor Sharadha all together decided on a theme of Dravidian culture and style for the sculpting.
