UoM seeks $200,000 from the US consulate

US Ambassador to India Richard Verma was requested to contribute $200,000 for restoration of various heritage buildings of the University of Mysore, during the inaugural of the restored building of the Oriental Research Institute (ORI), here, on Tuesday.

Speaking at the programme, Vice Chancellor K S Rangappa noted that the US consulate had granted $50,000 for the restoration of the ORI building. Requesting the Ambassador to grant the requested amount, he said, the funds would be used to preserve the heritage structures for posterity.

Verma lauded the contributions of the varsity and said, the varsity, which will soon hold its centenary celebrations, has become an important centre for higher education, not only for South India, but the whole country. Considering the importance of education, the varsity should strive to develop skills among students for the next 100 years, he said.

Exhibition
While ORI has more than 30,000 paper and palm leaf manuscripts and over 45,000 rare books, some of its rarest possessions were put on display, during the visit of Ambassador Verma.

Among the items on display was a rare manuscript of ‘Arthashastra’ by Chanakaya. Transliterated versions of the religious work commissioned by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysuru, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, rare palm leaf manuscripts with treatises on astronomy, medicine and mythology were also exhibited.