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ATA Roju in Indianapolis

04.25.2008

April 25th, 2008, was a special day for Telugu people of Indiana and for American Telugu Association (ATA). More than 150 Telugu people gathered at India Community Center in Indianapolis to lend their heartfelt support to upcoming mega event of the year – 10th ATA Conference and Youth Convention. The venue, nicely clad in traditional attire, invited the participants to the ambience of welcome music and slideshow of ATA Roju and ATA Vedukalu.

The program started with a prayer of Lord Ganesha melodiously rendered by Dr. Sujata Pammi. ATA regional coordinator for Indiana, Mr. Shekhar Krishnamaneni, appreciated the participants in his welcome address and provided introduction to ATA and the importance of the upcoming ATA convention in preserving and promoting Telugu culture. Mr. Raju Chinthala, Joint Secretary, then took the center stage and served as the MC and facilitator of the event. He applauded the work and contributions of Indiana ATA team and the progress made under President Dr. Chandra Reddy Gavva and his leadership team. Mr. Dileep Vadlamudi, President of Greater Indianapolis Telugu Association, spoke on the occasion and expressed his pleasure in witnessing the impressive progress ATA made over the years and the services it is extending to Telugu community in USA and India.

Then came the exciting cultural program judiciously interwoven with fundraiser activities. The very first item, “Pravaasana Teluguvaari Aata (ATA) Paatalu” directed by Dr. Sujata Pammi and Mrs. Sarada Kocherlakota, an item to be presented at ATA convention in July, was staged for the pleasure of the audience. This medley of patriotic and contemporary dance numbers by nine Telugu children is a runaway hit with the audience. Dr. Vijayapal Reddy, National Coordinator of ATA, then gave an uplifting speech and emphatically shared that ATA’s continued success is because of dedicated people. He stressed on the importance of the upcoming convention and the grandiose, never-before scale with which it is going to be held in Newark, New Jersey. He was ecstatic in announcing that cultural programs enough for 22+ hours were enthusiastically submitted while the available timeslot is only 10 hrs. He also emphasized the impressive stash of activities being planned by our youth and listed some of the invitees that included political leaders, Tollywood stars and spiritual leaders. Dr. DHR Sarma, well known poet and Telugu scholar of Indiana, then shared his appreciation for ATA’s activities and extended his best wishes to the convention in the form of a beautiful poem written for the occasion that started with “ee ATA veduka vijayamai, aikyabhavana baavutai…”

Dr. Chandra Reddy Gavva, President of ATA, then addressed the audience by explaining about his journey with ATA, village development activities undertaken by ATA in Andhra Pradesh, the mega scale of 10th ATA conference and the rationale behind choosing the theme and slogan of 10th ATA conference. He also won the full marks of the audience by sharing a Telugu kavitha – that highlighted the Telugu life on this Western soil and what we could and should do to preserve our Telugu heritage. With this backdrop, he extended a strong and sincere invitation to the audience and urged them to attend the convention. ATA treasurer Mrs. Bharathi Pulluru, Youth committee co-chair Dr. Manasa Reddy, Awards Committee Chair Dr. Sambi Reddy gave updates on their respective areas. Fast beat traditional, contemporary and hybrid medley dance numbers presented by Anunitha Nattam, Sai Ambaty, Saiuth Malpeddi, Karthik Reddy, Sandeep Pamireddy and Nikitha Lattupally received superb response from the audience throughout the performances. The stand-up comedy by Raja Reddy Avutu was a mega hit. Raja successfully tickled the funny bones of the audience by dexterously combining mimicry and humor with commendable histrionics in portraying comedy situations in daily life.

Interlaced with this extraordinary talent presentation of Telugu youth was the fundraiser activity the success of which was nothing short of the fine manifestation of the love of Telugu people for their culture and the value and respect they have for everything that is “Telugu”. Throughout the program donations kept pouring in and Mr. Ramu Chinthala and Mr. Sandeep Pamireddy kept the scoreboard. A surprise item featured along the way when ATA membership committee chair, Dr. Jayaprada Konijeti, brought in a huge “Laddu” equivalent to 110 regular size laddus for an auction. It fetched $645 for the fundraiser. Excitement and applause echoed the walls of the venue when it was announced that the goal of 100 thousand dollars was achieved – in exactly 100 minutes of fundraiser-cum-entertainment program!! Well, Telugus of Indiana have demonstrated that they can churn out $1,000 per minute for the love of their Motherland and for the ATA organization that is striving to uphold the “Telugu’ spirit and vision!!!

Thanks to volunteers Ramu Chinthala, Sandeep Pamireddy, Luvakar Reddy, and TCS Employees.