It is the Karnataka Arts College, in 'T' shape and in two storey's. 20 June 1917 marks a land-mark in the history and geography of Dharwad. It was on this blessed day that the Karnataka Arts College was founded. The long-felt dire need for higher education in this part of the old Bombay Presidency was fulfilled by the unswerving efforts of the late Diwan Bahadur Rodda Shreenivasarao and the late Rao Bahadur R.C. Initially housed at the Government Training College for Men. as an Intermediate College, it came to be upgraded as a First Grade College and was shifted to the present imperially majestic building in 1920. " Fresh as a morning rose newly washed with dew" the college began to bloom with the introduction of Science subjects and Honors courses. Hats off to Sri. Siddappa Kambli who strengthened the Science-Wing by equipping it with apparatus and other requisite facilities. With the linguistic re-organization of States in 1956 the College came under the control of the Mysore Government (Karnataka Government). The Karnataka University took over the College for running it as a model College in 1958, bifurcating it for administrative purposes into the Karnataka Arts College and the Karnataka Science College, different only in name but one in spirit, like the Indian bird "Gandabherunda' with two faces but one soul. The College began to flourish further with the introduction of new courses like Commerce, Music, Linguistics, Criminology, Yoga and so on. It started growing by leaps and bounds securing several ranks, many a time, nine out of ten at the examinations of the Karnatak University, P.U.E. Board and other public examinations. It has been winning prizes, general championships, individual championships, shields and certificates of merit at cultural meets and other competitions. It has won laurels in sports, games and matches held at different places all over the country from time to time. The College has been proudly felicitating the budding and triumphant talents. The proud products of the College include such alumni as Dr. P. Gajendragadkar, Ex-Chief Justice of India, Padmabhushan Wrangler Dr. D.C. Pawate, Ex-Vice Chancellor of the Karnataka University and Ex-Governor of Punjab: Padmashree Dr. V.K .Gokak, a distinguished Oxford University Scholar and a Jnanapeetha –awarded : Justice T.K. Tukol, Girish Karnad, to mention but a few
The academic, athletic and cultural atmosphere of the campus sings its "Past Glory, reflects the brilliant present and betokens of bright future across the corridors of centuries to follow". The principled Principals, the proficient Professors and the scholarly Students have been glorifying this College as a sanctum of education and a nest of singing birds
Thus, the Karnataka Arts College, set up in 1917 has been rendering yeoman service to the society by imparting higher education and training the youth academically, physically and culturally. To step into the portals of the Karnataka Arts College is a pleasure to join and study here is a bliss!
