April 2 , 2007

As reported in these columns the 16th TANA (Telugu Association of North America) Conference is going to be held in Washington DC between the July5 -7 , 2007.

More than $100,000 has been raised for 16th TANA convention, at the fundraising events organized on the 30th March 2007 at the Akbar Restaurant in Edison, NJ and on 31st March at the Jewel of India in Long Island, NY.

The organizers of these hugely successful events were Damu Gedala (Current TANA Regional Vice President for North East), Vasudeva Reddy Chinna (TANA Regional Vice President - Elect for North East), Janaki Rao (Secretary, TANA Board of Trustees), Mahesh Saladi (Managing Director and CFO, First Atlantic Capital), Saroja Sagaram (TANA Regional Vice President - Elect for East) and Harnath Doddapaneni (Current TANA Joint Secretary). This is the first time, fund raising dinner was organized for TANA in New Jersey, which was a huge success.

It may be noted that TANA has grown tremendously in recent years with many youngsters (immigrants in the past decade) joining and giving it a new life. Younger generation would be playing a very active role in conducting various aspects of this biennial conference, this time to address the changing needs of the Telugu populous in North America.

The Fourth of July weekend is arguably the busiest time of the year in Washington DC largely because of the Independence day celebrations in the National Capitol Region. The city draws at least a million visitors during that time.

The DC Convention Center where the conference is being held is a huge state of the art building right in the heart of the city – bigger and more sophisticated than any venue in the recent past. The list of prominent invitees this time include Popular Telugu film Stars Balakrishna, Mahesh Babu, Siddharth, Sunil besides Political heavy weights like Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, Daggubati Purandareswari and so on.

TANA would be showcasing in an even bigger way the strength as well as the discipline, intellect and cultural depth of the Telugu community right at the footsteps of the Capital of the most powerful country in the world. With many of the US lawmakers in presence, it is believed that this year’s TANA would significantly help and further the cause of Telugus.

The Fund risers at both NJ and NY were lively with the music, excellent singing by Ms. Anitha Krishna, Mr. Suresh and a few dance programmes by the local kids. Particularly Anitha Krishna enthralled the audience with old and new songs with her wonderful and melodious voice. Audience has thoroughly enjoyed the functions.

New Jersey Legislature Assemblyman Mr. Upendra Chivukula (Somerset County), TANA President Dr. Bandla Hanumaiah from Detroit, 16th TANA Conference Coordinator Dr. Yadla Hema Prasad, 16th TANA Conference Deputy Coordinator Jayaprada Valluripalli Garu, Mr. Satish Vemana (Current TANA Regional Vice President for East), Dr. Sreeram Suryanarayana (Fundraising Committee), Dr. Naren Kodali (Chair Web Committee) from Washington, DC have attended these functions.

Mr. Upendra Chivukula gave an excellent speech in Telugu on the importance of giving to the society. Dr. Bandla Hanumaiah gave a speech on the importance of these fundraisers for the continued success of TANA, Mr. Krishna Polavarapu gave a speech on the importance of the language Telugu and the efforts being put in to offer Telugu language courses in the American universities and Dr. Yadla Hema Prasad gave the details of the 16th TANA Conference and requested everyone’s enthusiastic participation in the event. Mr. Vasudeva Reddy Chinna gave the vote of thanks, and thanked each and everyone for their generous support. And the Master of Ceremony Mr. Mahesh Saladi was, as usual, exceptional.

Sri Anumolu Subba Rao, Sri Malla Reddy Pyla have donated $10,000 each for this convention. Sri Mahesh Saladi, Sri Vishnu, Sri Vasudeva Reddy Chinna, Srimathi Venigalla Laxmi and others have donated $5000 each for this convention.

TANA thanks everyone who has attended these functions on such a short notice and for making them a huge success. TANA especially thanks the following for their continued moral and financial support, and for their presence at these functions: Sri Tirumalarao Tipirneni, Sri Anumolu Subba Rao, Sri Mahesh Saladi, Sri Venigalla Sambasiva Rao, Srimathi Venigalla Laxmi, Sri Malla Reddy Pyla, Sri Dasaradharami Reddy, Sri Baburao Doddapaneni, Sri Ranjan Vadlapatla, Krishna Polavarapu, Srimathi Saroja Sagaram, Sri Harnath Doddapaneni, Sri Polavarapu Raghava Rao, Sri Vishnu, Sri Ashok Baddi, Sri Suresh Reddy Sadipiralla, Sri Venkata Ramana Ganne and others.

The organizing committee of TANA appeals to the Telugu brethren across United States, India and the world to enthusiastically support and participate in the 16th Conference and festivities in Washington DC from the 5th of July, 2007. This will go a long way in promoting and preserving the Telugu culture for now and posterity.