Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University

Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam UniversityThunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University ( Malayalam: തുഞ്ചത്ത് എഴുത്തച്ഛൻ മലയാള സർവകലാശാല, ?), also called Malayalam University, is a university in Kerala State in India established by Government of Kerala in the year 2012.[1] The University was inaugurated by Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala, on 1 November 2012 in a function held in the premises of Thunchanparamba, the home of Thunchath Ezhuthachan near Tirur in Malappuram, Kerala.[2] K Jayakumar, a civil servant of the Indian Administrative Service cadre, who retired as the Chief Secretary of Kerala on 31 October 2012 has been appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of the Malayalam University.[3] It was Jayakumar who prepared the Project Report of the University.[4] The University is named after Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan a sixteenth-century CE Malayalam litterateur whose writings helped develop Malayalam as a language with a distinct script of 51 letters, vocabulary and literature. Thunchath Ezhuthachan often described as the "The Father of Malayalam language" was born at Trikkantiyur in Thunchan Parambu in Tirur, in the state of Kerala. At the time of its inauguration Malayalam University has no infrastructure of its own in the form land and buildings. According to the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor the University offices will start functioning in temporary structures erected in the premises of Thunchan Memorial Govt College, Tirur. The Committee which drafted the Project report of the University has identified a 100 acre plot in Athavanad in Tirur Taluk as a suitable location for establishing the University
According to the Ordinance promulgated in connection with the establishment of the University the following are the objectives of the University.[1] Imparting education at the post-graduate level on different areas of Malayalam literature, Malayalam language and linguistics, comparative literature, Malayalam criticism, critique, ancient record, evolution of South Indian language scripts, history of scripts, tribal language study, regional language study, epigraphy, archaeology and museology, and translation into and from Malayalam. Imparting education on various manifestations of Kerala's culture, particularly in the areas of folklore and expressions of intangible culture, performing arts, traditional architecture and folk tales, classical and contemporary music, theater, art of engraving, study of folklore and martial arts. Offering courses of study on Kerala's heritage, traditional knowledge systems,cultural anthropology, and media studies with modern technical knowledge. Undertaking research programmes on specific areas within the overall context of Kerala's culture, heritage, language and literature, for making Malayalam script more adaptable to computer technology, to equip Malayalam to express advanced knowledge in science and technology. Taking up projects for collection, preservation, documentation and invetorisation of cultural expressions of Kerala, including valuable manuscripts using modern technology.