Dravidian University is a state university located at Kuppam in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established by the Government of Andhra Pradesh through a Legislature Act (No. 17 of 1997) with the stated objective of promoting the integrated development of Dravidian languages and culture. The institution received initial support from the governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, reflecting its conception as a collaborative venture among the southern states of India.
| Name | Dravidian University |
|---|---|
| Location | Kuppam, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Type | State university |
| Established | 1997 |
| Founding statute | Andhra Pradesh Legislature Act No. 17 of 1997 |
| Founder | Conceived by N. T. Rama Rao, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh |
| Founding partners | Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala |
| Focus | Integrated development of Dravidian languages and culture |
The university was the brainchild of N. T. Rama Rao, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The vision behind the institution was to provide a common academic platform for the study and promotion of the Dravidian family of languages and the literary, social and cultural heritage shared across South India.
The university was formally established by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1997 through a dedicated Legislature Act. At its founding, the governments of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala extended support to the venture, in keeping with its inter-state character and its mandate to serve the wider Dravidian linguistic and cultural region.
As an institution dedicated to Dravidian languages and culture, the university occupies a distinct position in the Indian higher education landscape. Its location at Kuppam, near the tri-junction of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, is geographically apt for its inter-state academic mission.