JOIN USDH IMPACT | Green signal to print Yakshagana books
Seven years after it was resolved to print textbooks in primary and mid-level sections, the state government has finally directed the Karnataka Textbook Society to print 5,000 Yakshagana books. A committee of authors had prepared the draft of textbooks for ‘junior’ and ‘senior’ exams in Yakshagana.
In 2009, the then chairman of Karnataka Yakshagana Academy Kumble Sundar Rao had proposed the inclusion of Yakshagana in the fine art examinations conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board. The state government had cleared the proposal in 2011 and a committee was formed to submit the draft textbook for junior and senior examinations.
With the order to print textbooks having been issued on November 16, the centres teaching Yakshagana across the state can prepare their students for Junior exams in the next two years. Sundara Kenaje, the convener of the committee which drafted the textbook, said the textbook was the result of efforts put in by several artists and experts in the field of Yakshagana in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts.
“In Kerala, one can perform Kathakali only after undergoing training in Kalamandalam for 12 years. In our curriculum, students will have to undergo training for two years before appearing for the junior examination, further two years training to appear for the senior examination. In the year 2009, we had conducted a workshop with over 70 artistes from both styles of Yakshagana – Badagu and Tenku. We (committee members) have included photographs and sketches in the curriculum which we hope will be helpful to teachers and students,’’ Sundara Kenaje said.
The present chairman of the academy Prof M A Hegde said that the proposal was ignored for all these years. “Although the process of examinations and handling of the printing of textbooks did not come under the academy, I had taken up the issue with the officials and politicians. A few politicians took interest and asked the officials to take the decision to direct the Textbook Society to print 5,000 copies of the book. The draft textbook for the Vidwat category is not approved yet,’’ Prof Hegde said.
DH had carried a report recently on undue delay in publishing Yakshagana textbooks.