BANGALORE: A Kannada folklore dictionary, brought out for the first time by Karnataka Janapada Academy was released by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Saturday. “Kannada folklore lexicon is a comprehensive cultural treasury of Karnataka. This is a great initiative taken by the Janapada Academy and the efforts are appreciable. The government has given importance and encouragement for such activities in the past and it will continue to do so,” Gowda said.
The dictionary is a comprehensive cultural treasury of the Kannada spoken word, culture and folk-life. It includes technical words used in day to day life based on agriculture, fishing, hunting, fine arts, professional handicrafts etc.
It took 18 months for the preparation of this dictionary with a total cost of `45 lakh spent on this project. The volume I and III are available for `250 while the second volume is priced at `500.
Karnataka Folklore Academy President G R Channabasappa said, “Bringing out a dictionary is just a first step. To fulfil the long felt need of our social-cultural life the Karnataka Folklore, the University has come forward to compile Kannada Folklore Dictionary that includes the Kannada dialect of all the people across the State.”
The members of KJA were of the opinion that the Folklore University should not be under the education department but under the Kannada and Culture Department. They requested CM to make necessary amendment to this effect.