NRI’s varsity champions Telugu culture in US

HYDERABAD: Even as courses such as MA Sanskrit and Philosophy face declining support in many universities in the Telugu states, a private university in the US is championing Indian languages and culture.Aria University in Milpitas, California, earlier known as the University of Silicon Andhra, combines traditional arts and language programmes with courses in technology, business and health sciences.The varsity, founded by a Telugu native, Anand Kuchibhotla, the current president of the university, also received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), which is comparable to NAAC accreditation in India.

It has about 500 students enrolled in courses such as Bharatanatyam and violin.Anand, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, said he moved to the US in 1987. It is the first university founded by aTelugu person promoting arts and culture outside India. “Many communities such as the Chinese, Japanese and Jews started private universities in the US many decades ago. Why shouldn’t we have our own university teaching Indian culture and languages, even if only through some part-time courses? I began work on the university in 2013, received approvals in 2016, and classes began in January 2017,” Anand told TOI .

“The university is also planning to conduct introductory workshops in some schools in the US under theprogramme ‘Y4Y’ (Yoga for Youth) in the coming months, and is also planning to start a PhD programme in Kuchipudi,” he said.In an effort to revive Telugu tradition and culture, the university offers courses in Harikatha and Burrakatha, storytelling forms that blend music and spirituality, as well as fundamentals of playwriting, Padya and Geya (lyrical writing), and creative writing in Telugu. Courses such as yoga, ayurveda and natural medicine are also offered.When asked whether he faced any difficulties while founding the university or afterwards, Anand said: “The US has the world’s largest immigrant population, and we did not face any issues.”