Minister U.T. Khader pledges state aid for publishing Ferdinand Kittel’s complete works
Mangalore, 2026 – Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader announced on Sunday that the state will fund the publication of the full literary collection of German scholar Dr. Ferdinand Kittel, whose contributions to Kannada language and literature remain unparalleled.
The declaration came during the Dr. Ferdinand Kittel Award ceremony organised by the Dr. Ferdinand Kittel Foundation at the Sahodaya Hall in Mangalore. While addressing the gathering, Khader highlighted Kittel's pioneering effort in compiling the first comprehensive Kannada–English dictionary and his extensive work on folk songs, grammar texts and dozens of other publications.
Khader stressed that preserving such scholarly output is a collective responsibility. He proposed the formation of a dedicated committee to oversee the editing, printing and distribution of Kittel's complete oeuvre, ensuring that present and future generations can access the material.
In the same event, the 2026 Dr. Ferdinand Kittel Award was presented to retired professors Dr. A.V. Navada of Mangalore and Dr. Veeranna Rajur of Dharwad for their distinguished service to Kannada language, literature and culture. Khader praised the inaugural award, noting that recognising two eminent scholars in the first year set a high standard for the honour.
Additionally, the minister confirmed financial support for the Basel Mission material museum under construction on the Karnataka Theological College campus. He also pledged to convert Kittel's former residence in Dharwad, now a school, into a museum that will display his personal books, manuscripts and related artifacts for public viewing and scholarly research.
Dr. Dhananjaya Kumble, head of Mangalore University’s SWP Kannada Studies Institute, remarked on Kittel's dedication to immersing himself in Kannada culture after arriving from Germany. Dr. H.M. Watson, president of the Ferdinand Kittel Foundation, chaired the ceremony, underscoring the lasting impact of Kittel's work on the coastal Karnataka cultural landscape.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK
