Philosophy Department of Mysore varsity completes 100 years

University to conduct three-day national seminar to mark the centenary

The University of Mysore will conduct a three-day national seminar to mark the centenary of the founding of the Department of Philosophy that was established in 1916 and is as old as the varsity itself.

The theme of the seminar, to be held from March 22 to 24, is ‘Hundred Years of Philosophy in Mysore University – An Overview.’ It will be inaugurated by Kannada novelist S.L. Bhyrappa at the EMRC Hall, Manasagangotri campus at 10 a.m.

S. Venkatesh, chairman, Department of Philosophy, traced the growth and development of the department and said it carved a niche for itself ever since it was established by Prof. A.R. Wadia in 1916, and within two years, Sarvapalli Radhakrishan – who later became the President of India – was appointed to the varsity. Dr. Radhakrishnan was professor at the University of Mysore from 1918 to 1921 and it was here that he authored his book

Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore.

“Dr. Radhakrishnan attracted thousands of students from both arts and science and took the department and the university to great heights and helped it attain national and international fame,” he said. There were other distinguished professors some of whom were the Vice Chancellors of the University such as K.T. Brajendranath Seal (1921 – 1929) and N.A. Nikam (1960 – 1962), he added.

Besides, there were outstanding scholars who helped in the growth and development of the department including another doyen M.Hiriyanna. In subsequent years, the department continued to attract some of the finest minds such as K.R. Srinivas Iyengar, G. Hanumantha Rao, H.K. Raja Rao, Yamunacharya, and H.T. Shantha, among others who contributed to the richness of thought.

Later years

Tracing the growth of the department in later years, the faculty members pointed out that the glorious tradition of attracting the best of the talents continued and outstanding scholars and writers like K.V. Puttappa, A.N. Murthy Rao, S.L. Bhyrappa, et al.

“If Prof. Yamunacharya, after his retirement, associated himself with the Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, to translate Gandhian literature into Kannada, Prof. V. Sitaramaiah became a celebrated poet, economist and a literary critic of a high order,” said Dr. Venkatesh.

Scholars and subject experts will recall the contributions of philosophy professors like A.R. Wadia, M. Hiriyanna, Radhakrishnan, A.N. Whitehead, G. Hanumantha Rao, and Yamunacharya among others.