Mysuru: Expressing displeasure on various State Universities for not encouraging Kannada studies, writer Prof. Aravinda Malagatti gave a clarion call to Kannada teaching staff to register strong protest over such anti-Kannada activities. He was speaking after inaugurating a national seminar on Kannada Literature-New Possibilities in Teaching and Research at a programme held at B.M. Shri auditorium at Manasagangothri Campus recently.

The programme was organised jointly by Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies, Chitradurga Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Vidyapeetha and Allama Prabhu Research Centre.

Regretting that varsities had become mere laboratories in recent years, Malagatti said that he had never seen such developments in 40 years of his teaching career.

Policy makers have been indulging in converting Indian Universities into laboratories by adopting Western model of semester system of exams by replacing the Indian model of annual exam that suited best for the nation, he opined.

Malagatti said education is the most important tool for transformation of the society through enlightenment and empowerment. Indian higher education system needs to re-invent itself to respond to the emerging challenges of a rapidly changing knowledge economy.

Speaking after a releasing a book ‘Punaschethana’ brought out on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar  highlighted the role of teaching staff in shaping the future of students. Emphasis should be laid on developing a holistic personality and not merely producing certificate holders, he added.

Development of personality of students does not depend upon the physical structure or aesthetic beauty of the campus building.