T.A.T.A NY Telangana Formation Day Celebration

Telangana American Telugu Association (T.A.T.A) New York local chapter celebrated the Telangana Formation Day on June 6,  for the first time in the New York Region. The day is marked  to remember the struggle that preceded the carving out of the new state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. The relentless struggle will be remembered for ever and we owe it all the great fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the separate state.

Considering present COVID-19 situation Telangana American Telugu Association (T.A.T.A) New York team came up with a unique idea of celebrating the event online with Zoom Video calling. More than 100 Telugu and Telangana families, community leaders in New York and across the nation participated in the online meeting.  The Telangana spirit has motivated the local community to join, brought all of them together with stronger bonding as one community.  It was a unique, never-before event for New York Telanganites, perfectly timed.

The evening of the 6^th Telangana Formation Day event started with a welcome address by T.A.T.A New York Regional Vice President Mallik Reddy Akkinapalli.  He welcomed the crowd and thanked them for attending the event and gave the overview of T.A.T.A and its activities conducted during past 4 years and also upcoming events.

T.A.T.A Literary standing committee chair Srinivas Guduru acted as a moderator for the event that lasted for more than 4 hours. He answered various questions from the community and provided information community services rendered by T.A.T.A. Describing the community help rendered by T.A.T.A, he conveyed special gratitude to T.A.T.A founder Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy who generously donated Rs. 1 Crore to Telangana CM relief fund to fight COVID-19 recently.  

He also extended his thanks to T.A.T.A president Bharath Madadi, T.A.T.A advisory Council co-chair Dr.Haranath Policharla, General secretary Srinivas Ganagoni, Executive Director Srinivas Manapragada, National Exe Coordinator Venkat Aekka, Social media chair Nishanth Sirikonda, New Jersey Regional Vice President Shiva Reddy and New Jersey Regional coordinator Praveen Guduru for attending the call and extending their support. Later he introduced the local Telangana folk singer Janardhan Pannela from Atlanta who is a well-known singer and artist.

Janardhan started his show with Telangana  formation song, Jaya Jaya He Telangana.  A minute silence was observed by the guests in remembrance of the sacrifices during the Telangana movement. Later he entertained the audience with Telangana folk songs.  Local singers Praveen Guduru, Nishanth Srikonda, Vivek Vallapragad, and Sharth Vemuganti also joined him with their mesmerizing songs in Telangana style.

There were lot of activities planned during the call. Inspirational speeches by our BOD Sharath Vemuganti, Contribution of Telangana Poets by Literary Co-chair Raghu Pannala, narration of personal experiences during the Telangana movement by Ashok Chintakunta, and Nishanth Sirikonda. Srinivas Manapragada & Nishanth provided pointers to the respective wings of the Organization to the help to the community members in distress, here in the US and back home. Community leaders shared their views on Telangana state and current developments in the state, there was a question answer session where participants exchanged their views and ideas.

The team conducted many informative sessions like presentation on Telangana prominent women, Q&A and Facts about Telangana by T.A.T.A women’s chair Madhavi Soleti and other New York team members.  Young kids also participated performing Telugu poem recitals. Local and National Community leaders answered many of the questions received from local community and there was demand for a local Telangana organization in New York region to help and spread Telangana culture in North East tristate region and to serve as an exclusive dais for Telangana events.

Today’s entire event was supported and encouraged by Dr. Pailla Malla Reddy and organized by T.A.T.A New York Core group members and their families Mallik Reddy, Sharath Vemuganti, Pavan Ravva, Sahodar Peddireddy, Usha Mannem, Srinivas Guduru, Madhavi Soleti, Ashok Chintakunta, Rama Vanama, Yogi Vanama, Raghuram Pannala,  Sathya Gaggenapally, Mounika Barma, Vani Singirikonda, Prahallada Kulkarni, Praveen Govindu, T.A.T.A NY Team Wish all Telangana Community a Happy Telangana Formation Day.

T.A.T.A BOD team Sharath Vemuganti, Sahodar Peddireddy, Usha Mannem and Pavan Ravva, thanked the media partners TV5, TV9, Mana TV, TV Asia Telugu, Sunrise TV, V6, YOYO, Telugu Times, Telangana Times, Namasthe Andhra, AP 24X7, Yadagiri, DD News, GNN for their coverage.