Udupi, meaning the land of the `lord of the stars` (according to an ancient story) is a historical city. As a city of the ancient past, it houses a research centre cum museum of great historical importance. Such an institution is the Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Sanshodhana Kendra. This Kendra is located in the Indian state of Karnataka. More specifically, this Kendra is situated in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) College Campus in Udupi. This museum was established in the year 1965. This museum is considered to be the only museum in an under graduate college which has been registered and hence is a recognized museum.
Purpose of Establishing Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Sanshodhana Kendra
Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Sanshodhana Kendra was built with the aim to organize research work in ancient history and literature, both classical and modern.
Functions of Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Sanshodhana Kendra
Today, the Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Sanshodhana Kendra functions as an Oriental Research Centre for post doctoral research. Since 2004, the centre is known to be affiliated to the Hampi Kannada University. It is actively involved in guiding interested scholars to pursue their research in areas of language, literature, art, culture and worship of the region. Dr. Padekallu Vishnu Bhat, Dr. Mahabaleshwara Rao, Dr. Panduranga, Dr.H.S. Shivaswamy, Dr. Malathi K. Murthy, Dr. B. Jagadeesh Shetty, Dr. Uppangala Rama Bhat, Dr. Pundikai Ganapayya Bhat, Dr. Malini Adiga and Dr. Gayathri Navada are the various guides helping in research activities in different areas. This Kendra is also involved in conducting regular workshops, extension lectures and seminars. Publication of books pertaining to art and culture of this region is also a function of this Kendra. Many national and international seminars have also been conducted in this Kendra. It also runs an organized reference service. This Kendra is known to have given Doctorate degrees to fourteen scholars and many more scholars have registered themselves for research activities in this institution.
Collection of Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Sanshodhana Kendra
The Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Kendra was earlier a storehouse of books from the personal collection of the well known poet named, Manjeshwar Govinda Pai. This museum today has the Tulu Lexicon of six volumes. It is known to be a scholarly feat of the century in the field of a minority spoken language. A collection of the research articles of Late Rastrakavi Govind Pai in Kannada, known as the voluminous Govinda Pai Samputa, is considered to be a masterpiece and is stored in Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Sanshodhana Kendra. As an archaeological museum this Kendra is a storehouse of abandoned remnants in stone, metal and wood found at shrines, old castles and other monuments. These are located in a separate wing in the new building, Nalanda.
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