Draft Yakshagana books ready, no progress in printing

There seems to be no progress on the publication of Yakshagana textbook or the exams, even six months after the authors of the textbooks submitted a draft proposal to the Karnataka Text Book Society (KTBS).

It was in 2010 that a proposal was made to introduce Yakshagana as another subject under the list of exams that the ‘other examinations’ section of the Karnataka Secondary Education and Examination Board (KSEEB) conducts.

The KTBS was given the responsibility to look into the issue of including Yakshagana as one of the exams. A government order was issued in 2012 for publishing the textbooks in primary and mid-level sections.

A committee was constituted comprising experts from the Yakshagana and academic fields. However, even six years later, there seems to be little progress.

Shalini Rajaneesh, principal secretary, department of primary and secondary education, said she was unaware of the proposal, while KTBS managing director Narasimhaiah told DH that the official concerned was transferred and an update on the matter was awaited. Faculty entrusted with the responsibility of framing the syllabus and textbooks, however, said they had submitted a draft proposal.

“The proposal is with KTBS. The textbooks have to be printed once approvals are given. KSEEB will conduct the exam,” said one of the members of the committee, attributing the delay to the transfer of the official in KTBS.

Prakash Mudittaya, one of the authors of the textbooks, said this would be the first time that textbooks had been drafted for Yakshagana.

“Exams will be in junior, senior and vidwath levels like in music and bharatanatyam exams. Artistes can start taking these exams once the textbooks are ready. It will take two years for the first batch of students to get the junior grade certificate after the textbooks are published,” he said.

Mudittaya said the textbooks and the exams would lead to streamlining of the teaching of the art form.

“There are several Yakshagana schools and the quality is assessed based on the number of years of their existence. We hope to collaborate with the Yakshagana Academy for training. We will have to conduct orientation sessions on how the syllabus ought to be approached,” he said.