The Production of the ‘Local’: The Educational and Cultural Activities of Colleges in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada Districts – A Report

Alva’s College, ಮೂಡಬಿದ್ರಿ

Alva’s College which began in 1998, has several medical colleges as sister organisations
all run by the Alva’s Education Foundation.
Chairperson of the Foundation Dr. Mohan Alva is also a Yakshagana artiste and has a
personal collection of several ganesha idols. The institution is known for two of its big
annual events - Alva’s Nudisiri and Alva’s Virasat.
Alva’s Nudisiri is a literary and cultural programme during which the Kannada writers
and scholars deliver seminar on various themes such as ‘Kannada manassu.’ Various
scholars who have worked on Kannada language and culture will be invited for this threeday
programme and many who have worked for Kannada will be felicitated on the
occasion. Mohan Alva’s collections, which include various types of Ganesha idols, will
be displayed on the occasion. Students will also get to listen to the words of the experts.
The presentations at the seminars will be later edited and published by the Kannada
department of the college.
Alva’s Virasat has been held annually for the last 10 years. This is to bring awareness
about the culture of various States across India. Usually this is held in December or
January. Both the events are financed by the Alva’s Foundation. Artistes from Gujarat,
Rajasthan and other parts of India will come and perform here and local art forms will
also be displayed on this occasion. This is a kind of cultural exchange among States,
while creating awareness among locals about the diversity in Indian culture.
Apart from these, in the college, various competitions, seminars and lectures are held.
The Kannada Department has opened its own departmental library.
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The college has introduced a course on Food Nutrition for BSc while for BA along with
History and Kannada, Bharatanatyam or Carnatic music will be taught as optional
subjects. While teaching Bharatanatyam or Carnatic music, both theory and practice will
be given importance.
Besides, the college has introduced a combination of Micro-biology and Bio-Chemistry,
Biochemistry and Biology for the degree students, which is not introduced in any other
colleges in Dakshina Kannada.
Every department has its own association. For example, Science Forum carries out
programmes on basic science and bio-tech, which include projects for students and
researches related to their curriculum.
Though Alva’s foundation has developed a garden of medicinal plants, and has a
homeopathic hospital, the science students do not undergo training there and no interdisciplinary
programmes have been taken up.
Bio-vision – forum of the Biology students – conducts blood grouping camp in the
college. A record of blood groups of staff and students of the college is maintained to
help patients in the neighbourhood in case of emergency.