New Delhi: Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) has partnered with University of Madras to inaugurate the Indigenous & Endangered Languages Laboratory (IELLAB) on the university campus, marking the launch of South India’s first dedicated laboratory for the documentation, preservation and academic study of indigenous and endangered languages.
The facility has been established under the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and implemented through registered non-profit partner Gabo Alliance Foundation. The IELLAB was inaugurated by B. Ramesh Babu, Managing Director & CEO of Karur Vysya Bank.
Envisioned as a state-of-the-art research and documentation centre, the laboratory will combine academic research with technology-enabled preservation. It will focus on audio-visual archiving of languages, oral histories, folklore, rituals and cultural practices, while also facilitating structured linguistic research and scholarly publications.
A key component of the initiative is community engagement, with indigenous elders, scholars and students collaborating to promote inter-generational knowledge transfer and sustain living cultural traditions.
In its initial phase, the laboratory will prioritise documentation and research on indigenous and endangered languages such as Soliga, Kota, Toda, Irula and Badaga, which are deeply rooted in the cultural landscape of Southern India and face varying degrees of vulnerability.
Speaking on the occasion, B. Ramesh Babu said that the initiative reflects the Bank’s commitment to preserving India’s cultural and intellectual heritage. He noted that supporting the laboratory aligns with KVB’s broader vision of creating long-term societal impact through meaningful CSR interventions.
Dr. Susaimanickam Armstrong, Professor and Head, Centre for Endangered Languages, University of Madras, said the establishment of the IELLAB marks a significant step for linguistic scholarship in South India. He added that the Bank’s support would strengthen systematic research and community-led preservation of endangered languages, ensuring that indigenous knowledge systems are documented and sustained for future generations.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by A. V. M. K. Shanmugam, Secretary, Avichi College of Arts and Science and Managing Director of AVM Productions (P) Ltd, along with senior faculty members, research scholars and students of the University of Madras.
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