Malayalam computing to get a fillip

Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University and Kerala State IT Mission have embarked on a journey to give a fillip to Malayalam computing and research.  

The aim is to provide a common platform for existing isolated works and set a benchmark for the future research works, that till now was a missing link in promoting Malayalam computing.

K Jayakumar, Vice-Chancellor, Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, said that till now there was nobody to take a lead role to bring together the scattered works that have taken place in Malayalam computing.

 “Our initial focus will be to take stock of the works done so far in the Malayalam computing front.  This may include works that have been carried out by firms or persons on an individual level in Malayalam computing. From now on, Malayalam University will take the lead role in identifying works and in research activities,” Jayakumar  said.

 Jayaku said that in many foreign universities, the regional language computing falls in the category of language research and the Malayalam University would set an agenda for the future research in this arena. 

“It will be more like an action research. The bringing together of various stakeholders in the field will help the University to set its own research agenda and involve in other collaborative projects in this vital area,” Jayakumar said.

 In order to bring together scholars and researchers in this area and take stock of the advances made and difficulties encountered, the university in association with Kerala State IT Mission would be holding a one-day workshop on February 8 in Technopark here.  

Jayasankar Prasad C, director, Kerala State IT Mission said they had invited people who had done works in Malayalam computing to present their abstract.

 “The workshop will be the first step to bring together different groups working on Malayalam computing on a common platform. Once we identify the work done, we will be able to take computing in Malayalam to the next level.

The research on Malayalam computing spearheaded by Malayalam University will definitely give it a boost,” he said.

 He said that Kerala State IT Mission on its own, was carrying out various programmes and training sessions to make Malayalam computing more popular and to make it accessible to all.  “It is as part of this that we had launched ‘Ente Kalalayam’ and ‘Ente Gramam’ websites.

 We are also providing support so that Unicode can be downloaded from the websites,” said Prasad.