A move to establish a study chair for Beary language in Mangalore University has taken a leap forward with the Academic Council of the university giving approval to the draft statute for the purpose three days ago.
The Syndicate and the Finance Committee of the university had given approval to the draft statute last month.
According to Vice-Chancellor of the university P.S. Yadapadithaya, the draft would be sent to the government now for its approval.
Of the ₹ 1 crore assured by the government in its 2017-18 budget for establishing the Beary Adhyayana Peetha, it has released a partial grant of ₹ 41.12 lakh for the proposed chair.
The draft said that Beary is an oral dialect of the people of coastal Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala. Bearys, the largest community among the Muslims of Tulunadu, speak the same language and possess their own literature, folk culture, practices and celebrations. Similar dialects, which resemble Malayalam, are also used by Billavas, Bovis, Marakalas and other non-Muslim communities of Tulunadu.
A close documentation of these community-based folk art and the performance details will provide valuable material for research and throw light on their culture, literature, practices, celebrations and beliefs as well, the draft statute said.
It said that despite its rich heritage, encompassing a rich cultural variety, Beary continues to suffer and faces the threat of extinction.
To preserve its literature, culture and practices, Bearys spread over Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala have often voiced their desire in various forums to establish a centre for studies and research in their language.
Referring to some of the objectives of the peetha, the draft statute said that it will study the Genomics of Beary-speaking community to trace the origin and genetic factors and explore and record the varied ethnographical and sociological facets of the Beary community.
The chair will study the religious beliefs and practices, folk traditions and performing arts of the Beary people.
It will promote formal education in Beary at the university-level and organise seminars, workshops and conferences and extension programmes on Beary language.
It will also conduct diaspora studies on Beary people who have settled down in other States and countries.
