Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Udupi

Rashtra Kavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra (Research Centre)

Rashtra kavi Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra, an Oriental Research centre, established in 1965 around the nucleus of a unique collection of 5000 volumes belonging to the library of late Poet-Laureate Shri Manjeshwar Govind Pai. The objective is to organize research work in ancient history and literature-classical and modern.The center arranges annual lectures by renowned scholars and publicaion from time to time.It also runs an organised reference service.

The university of Mysore recognised this centre for research in the history and culture of the region leading to Doctoral degree.With the establishment of Mangalore University the affiliation for Ph.D. continued with the Mangalore University until 2004.Since 2004 the Centre has been affiliated to the Hampi Kannada University. Dr. Padekallu Vishnu Bhat, Dr. Mahabaleshwara Rao, Dr. D.R. Panduranga, Dr.H.S. Shivaswamy, Dr. Malathi K. Murthy, Dr. B. Jagadeesh Shetty, Dr. Uppangala Rama Bhat, Dr. Pundikai Ganapayya Bhat, Dr. Malini Adiga and Dr. Gayathri Navada have been recognised as guides for research in different areas. Fourteen scholars have obtained their Doctorate degrees through this Kendra and many more scholars have registered themselves and are working on their projects.

Tulu Lexicon Project :

The most important project undertaken by the research center has been the Tulu Lexicon Project with Dr.U.P.Upadhyaya as the Chief Editor and Dr.Mrs.Susheela P.Upadhyaya and other scholars on the editorial staff. After a dialect survey of the Tulu speaking areas in the initial period a trilingual dictionary has been prepared on most scientific lines. With the release of the last three volumes in September 1997 the giant dictionary of 3332 pages and more than one lakh Tulu words has been accomplished. The Lexicon has been recognized as the best dialect dictionary ever published in an Indian language. The whole set of 6 volumes is available at a moderate price of Rs.620/-

The magnum opus of the was the compilation of a 1400 page volume containing research works of the late Manjeshwar Govind Pai.In a matter of two years the Director of the Kendra, Prof.H.Krishna Bhat brought out another volume of the English articles written by the late Manjeshwar Govind Pai, which became another milestone in the history of MGM College.

Recognizing talent : The publication work of the Govind Pai Kendra goes hand in hand with programmes of supporting creative and critical work in Kannada.The awards given are as follows:

1. The Kadengodlu Poetry award is awarded to a poet who presents the best unpublished anthology of poems.
2. The Prof.Inamdar Award confers a prize on the best critical work published in Kannada every year.
3. The Prof.K.S.Haridasa Bhat Award rewards the best work on Folklore published in Kannada every year.
4. Polali Sheenappa Hegde Award goes to the best Tulu scholar in regional studies.

Museum : A Govinda Pai Archaeological museum had been set up which possess abandoned remnants in stone, metal and wood found at shrines ,old castles and other monuments. These are housed in a separate wing in the new building Nalanda. This museum is perhaps the only museum in an under graduate college which has been registered and hence is a recognised museum.

Research : A Konkani Research Wing has been added to the Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra and an initial project i.e. a critical work on Konkani studies has been brought out.

Research Projects sanctioned to Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra and Regional Resource Centre, MGM College
Department	Title	Duration	Funding Agency	Total Funding
Tulu Academy	Survey & Conservation	6 months to 1 year	Govt. of Karnataka	Rs. 80,000
R. G. Pai Centre	Lambani Book Project	1 year	Suvarna Karnataka Yojane	50,000
Regional Resource Centre	History of Bunts	5 Years	World Bunts Foundation	10 lakhs
Regional Resource Centre	Digitization Project	1 year	CIL, Mysore	1 lakh