The State government will set up Arebhashe (a dialect of the Kannada language also known as Gowda Kannada) academy to preserve and foster the unique dialect and culture, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said on Sunday.

Speaking at an annual get-together of the Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada Gowda Samaj at the Palace Grounds here, Gowda said the Arebhashe Sahitya Academy would be set up on the lines of the language academies constituted for Kodava, Tulu and Konkani.
Arebhashe is spoken by the people belonging to ‘Gowda’ community in Kodagu district and Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada. It is also spoken in the eastern parts of the Kasaragod district in Kerala.

“It has been a long pending demand of the community to constitute the academy. I will soon convene a meeting of officials to discuss the modalities”, Gowda said.

On a request by the Samaj that the Government allot two acres of land to conduct its activities, the chief minister said, “the Government has been in the grip of controversies pertaining to land allotment, mining and denotification. But, I will consider your request appropriately.”

Gowda said he had become chief minister under “extraordinary” circumstances and he needed to be careful while taking decisions. “I will ensure there is transparency in my administration and I meet the expectations of one and all,” Gowda said.

Speaking on the occasion, Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje said the academy would go a long way in helping to collect, preserve and carry out research works in Arebhashe.