Dr. Purushothama Bilimale

Professor of Kannada

Kannada Language Chair

Centre of Indian Languages

School of Language, literature and Culture Studies

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067

Ph: 011-26738976,

Email: pbilimale@gmail.com

Permanent Address:

6098/8, Santhushti Apartments,

Sector-D, Pocket-6, Vasant Kunj,

New Delhi – 110 070, Phone: 011-26134345

Area of Specialization: Literary Criticism, Indian Folklore, Tulu

studies, Cultural Studies and Yakshagana.

PROFILE

Dr. Purushothama Bilimale ( August 21, 1955) has served for many years as Professor of Kannada at the Kannada University, Hampi, Karnataka and then as a Director at the American Institute of Indian studies, New Delhi. Currently working as Professor of Kannada at the Kannada Language Chair, Centre of Indian Languages, School of Language, literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Prof. Bilimale is a teacher, writer, columnist, and consultant who helped students and researchers for over thirty eight years. He has edited and revised publications that include reports, theses, dissertations, textbooks, proposals, essays, stories, and articles. He has led writing and editing workshops for students and teachers.

He had an extensive experience in the area of Indian folklore. He has carried out field work in both Northern and Southern India. He is also familiar with the needs of Indian folkloristics having taught students of folklore and conducted seminars and workshops in many parts of India.

A long-time student of Yakshagana (a South Indian folk performing art), he has learned and performed Yakshagana for last 30 years. He had published 27 books and more than 75 articles on Indian folklore and literature.

During his tenure as a President of Delhi Karnataka Sangha (2004-2008) he was able to build Delhi Karnataka Sangha Cultural complex at the cost of Rs. 10 crores which is now a center of Cultural activities at the National Capital.

As a professor of the recently established ( October 2015) Kannada Language Chair, JNU, he is promoting excellence in teaching, researching and publishing on language, literature and culture of Karnataka in all its multilingual and plural manifestations. The Chair encourages comparative studies across a wide range of domains and also aims at disseminating knowledge of Kannada language, literature and culture both at National and International levels. The Chair has taken translation projects with the objective of rendering into English a whole gamut of classical and non-classical Kannada texts of seminal nature. This process has been initiated with the translation of three major texts of 10^th century– Kavirajamargam, Sahasa Bhima Vijaya and Vaddaradhane. He is also bringing out book on Tulu and Kodava languages.

He has been the recipient of many awards including Karnataka State award and Karnataka Folklore Academy award. He was a fellow of Japan Foundation during 2009.

Dr. Purushottama Bilimale has visited and lectured at most of the countries including USA, Japan, Belgium, Israel and Britain.

OTHER DETAILS

Education:

M.A Kannada (1979) from Madras University, First Class, First Rank.

Ph.D. in Folklore (1985) from Mangalore University.

Experience:

Lecturer of Kannada from July 1979 to August 1984 at N.M. College, Sullia and at the Mangalore University from September 1984 to August 1992.

Professor of Kannada from September 1992 to January 1998 at Kannada University, Hampi, Karnataka.

Director (Programs) from February 1998 to September 2015 at the American Institute of Indian Studies, Gurgaon.

Professor of Kannada from October 2015 onwards till date at the Centre of Indian Languages, School of Language, Literature of Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Administrative and Institute service:

Dean, Faculty of Arts, Kannada University, Hampi, Karnataka (1992-95)
Syndicate Member, Kannada University, Hampi, Karnataka (1992-96)

Head, Department of Folklore, Kannada university Hampi, Karnataka (1992- 1997)

Member, Karnataka Folklore Academy, Government of Karnataka (1995-1998)

Member, Collection Development Committee, Central Secretariat Library, Minister of Culture, Government of India, New Delhi (2007-12)

Member, Board of Studies in School of Humanities and Languages, Central University of Karnataka, Gulbarga (2014-17)

Expert Member, SGC, Prasar Bharati, New Delhi (2013-18)

Research Guidance:

Successful guidance for eight M.Phil. students and six Ph. D students.

IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS

Books

Mackenzi Kaifiattugalu 1985, Mangalagangotri (Life and works of Lt. Col. Mackenzi, 154 pages)

Lingarajana Hukum Name1986, Puttur: Samira Prakashana (Local response to colonial Administration in Coorg, 112 pages)

Kambula 1987, Mysore: Human Resources Development (A book on buffalo race, 36 pages)

Dalita Jagattu 1988, Bangalore: Hosadikku Prakashana (Critical essays on the culture of untouchables of South Canara, 122 pages)

Bandaya Dalita Sahitya 1989, Bangalore: Karnataka Sahitya Academy ( A Critical evaluation of the protest literature of Kannada, 180 pages), now in 6^th edition.

Karavali Janapada 1990, Mangalagangothri (Collection of 10 research papers on Folkloristics, 198 pages)

Shista-Parishista 1992, Mangalagangothri: Madipu Prakashana (Collection of 14 essays on Modern Kannada Literature, 220 pages)

Koragaru 1993, Bangalore: Karnataka Sahitya Academy (Ethnographic writings on Koraga community, 168 pages)

Janapada Kshetra Karya 1993, Hampi: Kannada University, Handbook of field work in folklore, 32 pages)

Komuvada Mattu Janasamskriti 1993, Hospet : Bandaya Prakashana ( A book on communalism and folk culture, 48 pages)

Hampi Janapada 1995, Hampi: Kannada University (Book on folklore of Hampi, 198 pages)

Koodu Kattu 1997, Chitradurga : Ananda Kanda prakshana, (Collection of 15 research papers on Folkloristics, 256 pages)

Huligemma 1999, Hampi: Kannada University, (A research book on a folk deity, 90 pages)

Kumararama 1999, Hampi: Kannada University ( A book on a folk hero, 120 pages)

Jana Samskriti 2008, Bangalore: Kannada Sangha, Christ University, ( A collection of 10 articles on Karnataka Folklore, 130 pages)

Bahuroopa 2014, Hosapete: Yaji Prakashana,(Collection of 57articles on the culture of India, 240 pages)

Meludani 2015, Hosapete: Yaji Prakashana (Collection of 42 articles on literary criticism, 235 pages)

Bandta chaluvali mattu sahitya 2017, Bangalore: Abhinava Prakashana (a book on literay movement of Karnataka, 190 pages)

Books edited

Kannada Bhasha Patyapustakagalu, 1985, Mangalore: Bandaya Sahitya Prakashana (Collection of analytical essays on Kannada Text Books, 90 pages)

Lohiavada-kelavu tippanigalu, 1986, Mangalore: Bandaya Sahitya Prakashana (Notes on Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, 80 pages)

Devaru Devva Vijanana, 1988, Bangalore, Nava Karnataka Prakashana, (Translation of the writings of Dr. Abraham Kovur, 240 pages)

Yakshagana Prasangagalu, 1989, Bombay: Padavidhara Yakshagana Samiti, (Collection of five Yakshagana episodes, 152 pages)

Akashara Vimochane, 1990, Uchila: Kalagangotri ( Collection of five Yakshagana Prasangas on literacy)

Perspectives on Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu ( with others) 1992, Mangalore university, (349 pages)

Vichara Sahitya, 1992, Bangalore: Karnataka Sahitya Academy (Collection of rational writings in Kannada, 250 pages)

Siri, 1995, Kalagangotri : Mangalore (Felicitation volume presented to Amritha Someshwara, 400 pages).

Rajadhaniyalli Karnataka 2006 New Delhi: Delhi Karnataka Sangha, ( Collection of articles on Representation of Karnataka at the national Capital, 130 pages)

Belli chikke, 2008, New Delhi, Delhi Vokkaliga Gowda Sangha ( 150 pages)

Kadala Tadiya Tallana 2009 along with Usha Kattemane, Srushti Prakashana, Bangalore

Research Projects Undertaken and Completed

Folktales of Tulunadu, Collected and submitted to RRC Udupi, 1992( unpublished)

Samshodhana Karnataka, Compilation, Submitted to Kannada University, 1993

Hosapete Taluk Darshana (Gazetteer of Hospete Taluk, Karnataka), Kannada University 1996 (unpublished)

Encyclopedia of Folk Deities of Karnataka, Completed and Submitted to Kannada University 1996, ( Under print)

Godess Huligemma, Completed and submitted to Kannada University, 1997

Folklore of Karnataka, Manuscript submitted to National Book Trust of India, New Delhi for publication, 1998

Kumararama , Completed and submitted to Kannada University Hampi 1998

Kagura, Bhuta and Yakshagana ( A project submitted to the Japan Foundation) 2008

Kannada Kalike , a website for Kannada learning , 2018

Journals guest edited

Rangapatra, 1986-1988, Chaduranga: Mudabidire (Journal on the theatre activities of Coastal Karnataka)

Janapada Gangothri, 1989, Bangalore: Karnataka Janapada Academy (Journal on Karnataka Folkloristics)

Karnataka Folklore News Letter: 1988-89 (With others)

STQ special issue on Yakshagana, 2000 (With Dr. Shubha Chaudhuri), Seagull Publications, Calcutta

Seminars/Workshop Organized

Four days’ workshop on Folk Arts of Karnataka, 1992, Kannada University, Hampi

Four days’ workshop on Folk Deities of Karnataka, 1993, Kannada University, Hampi

Five days’ workshop on Bayalata Performances, 1994, Kannada University

Hampi

Twenty one day’s workshop on Folkloristics, 1994, Kannada University, Hampi

Three days seminar on Sannatas of North Karnataka, 1995, Kittur, Karnataka

Two days National Seminar on trickster Heroes, 1996, RRC, Udupi, Karnataka.

Two days’ workshop on ‘How to read a book’, December 9-10, 2004, Delhi Karnataka Sangha, New Delhi

Two days National Seminar on ‘ Kuvempu,’ November 12-13, 2005 Delhi Karnataka Sangha, New Delhi

Three days National Seminar on ‘History from below: Oral traditions of South India’, December 2-3-4, 2006, Delhi Karnataka Sangha, New Delhi

One day seminar at Delhi Karnataka Sangha on ‘Karnataka’s contribution to Indian Social Justice’; September 12, 2007.

One day National seminar on the classical Status for Kannada and Telugu Languages in association with the Kannada University, Hampi, Dravidian University, Kuppam, P.S. Telugu University, Hyderabad, and Kannada Development Authority Bangalore at Delhi Karnataka Sangha on July 19, 2008.

Issues of Development: A case study of Dakshina Kannada District, December 6, 2009, organized on behalf of South Kanara Club at Delhi Karnataka Sangha Auditorium, New Delhi

Faculty Development workshop, 2-3, January 2009 at Jaipur

Faculty Development workshop, 2-3, January 2010, Madhurai

Faculty Development workshop 2011, January 2-5, Lucknow

Faculty Development workshop, 4-7, January, 2012. Gurgaon

Faculty Development workshop 2014, January 2-5, Kolkata

A daylong seminar on Indian Bhakthi tradition, October 22, 2016, JNU

Three days National seminar on Modernity in Indian literature, January 22-25, 2017, JNU

Two days festival of Yakshagana organized by NCPA, Mumbai, March 2018

Workshops Attended:

Five days’ workshop on Research Methodology, 1987, Mangalore University

87 days international workshop on Folkloristics, 1988-89, organized by Ford Foundation and RRC Udupi, Hyderabad and Udupi.

Seven days international Folk Festival, 1991, Bangalore, Organized by Indo-Danish Project.

Six days workshop on Feminist folklore, 1992, Maravante, Organized by RRC, Udupi

Seven days’ workshop on Yakshagana Costumes, 1992, Kateel, Organized by Martha Ashton of University of Chicago.

Six days workshop on Asian Folk Dances, 1994, Tokyo, Organized by JADE, Japan

Three days’ workshop on Tribal Studies, 1996, Bangalore, Organized by Janapada Academy Government of Karnataka

Five days’ workshop on “Children games”, 1999, Tokyo, Youth friendship associations.

Two days’ workshop on “Children education” held at IGNCA, New Delhi, February, 2001

Five days’ workshop on ‘Traditional field play and games’, Tokyo, Japan; November 2-5, 2001.

Three days’ workshop on ‘rethinking religion in India-I’ organized by Kuvempu University, in association with Gent University Belgium held at IGNCA, Delhi, January 21-24, 2008

Participated in Four day work shop organized by Association of US Academic Programs in India ( AUSAPI), United States-India Educational Foundation ( USIEF) Head Quarters, New Delhi, December 3-5, 2008.

Three days’ workshop on ‘Rethinking religion in India-II’ organized by Kuvempu University, in association with Gent University Belgium, IDSA, Delhi, 10-14, January 2009.

Four Days work shop on the Multiplicity of Kannada Language organized by Kannada Development Authority, Shimoga, Karnataka, 8-12, September, 2009.

International workshop on Mahabharata traditions, organized by IGNCA, New Delhi, February 2011

International workshop on Ramayana, organized by IGNCA, New Delhi, February 2012

International conference on Ramayana traditions in South Asia, Organized by National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, September 2017

Visits abroad:

Tokyo, Japan: As a troop leader and artist of a Yakshagana troop, duration of one month, August, 1994

Tokyo, Japan: Visited Tokyo to participate in International workshop on “Children folk games”, December 1998.

Hebrew University: Visited Jerusalem to participate in an international seminar on “Frames and Framing in Indian literature” on February, 1999.

Tokyo, Japan: To participate in the third international festival on traditional field play and games. November 2001.

Japan Foundation visiting fellow at the Waseda University, Tokyo from September 9 to December 8, 2008.

Ghent University, Belgium, 7-10 May 2008.

Colombia University, New York, March 29, 2011

New York State University, April 2, 2011

University of Haiti, April 6, 2011

University of Texas at Austin, April 8, 2011.

Important Awards Received:

Dr. Gundmi Chandrashekhara Ithal award for the book Karavali Janapada, 1992, Mangalore
B.H. Shree award for the book Shista-Parishista, 1993, Sirsi
Mallikarjuna Mansur award for the book Shista-Parishista, 1994, Raichur
Arya Bhata award for the book Shista-Parishista, 1994, Bangalore
Sarangamata award for the book Kuudukattu, 1998, Koppala
K.S. Haridasa Bhat award for the book Kuudukattu, 1998, Udupi
Karnataka State Janapada mattu Yakshagana Academy award-2006, Bangalore
Dr. Sunitha Shetty award, Karnataka Sangha, 2010, Mumbai
Karnataka State award 2011, November 1, 2011, Bangalore
Akshara Pratishthana award for the book Bahuroopa 2012, Mangalore
MP Prakash Award 2016, Bangalore
Yaskharanga award 2017, Udupi

Fellowship Received:

Hebrew University travel Grant 1999

Japan Foundation Fellowship 2007-2008

University of Ghent, Belgium travel grant -2008

Council of American Overseas Research Center (CAORC) travel grant 2011.

Dr. Purushottama Bilimale
Professor of Kannada