Mysore University to set up chair after Narayan

MYSORE: As the pressure is mounting on the district administration and the government to restore renowned novelist R K Narayan’s house as a heritage monument to create a museum and the centre in memory of one of the greatest Indian writers in English, the Mysore University that organised a threeday conference to mark the centenary year of the writer is now keen to set up a chair on R K Narayan in the English department of the University.Though, the previous vicechancellor J Shashidhar Prasad had shown interest to convert R K Narayan’s house into a literary centre if the government came forward to handover the property.But, nothing much happened even after writing to the government.The Mysore University that was the first varsity in the country to organise an international conference, was also the first to prescribe the works of Narayan in both under-graduate and postgraduate syllabus.Dozens of students over the decades have worked and have done a research on the literary works and contributions of R K Narayan.Mysore University, Vice Chancellor V G Talawar said that he would write to the government for funds to setup endowment chair on R K Narayan that will encourage students to know more about the works of Narayan and English literature.He said that they would plead for `50 lakh to set up a chair and conduct academic activities like lectures by renowned literally personalities and conferences.He said that the Mysore University is ready to maintain a museum and a literary centre at his house in Yadavgiri provided the government or the family hand’s over the property to the varsity.“It is our privilege and great honour to run a literary centre or museum that will be named after R K Narayan.However, it depends on the decision of the government and the family,” the Vice- Chancellor said.