TANA – Telugu Association of North America

Telugu Association of North America (or TANA, as it is well known) is the oldest and biggest Indo-American organization in North America. TANA was founded at a convention in New York in 1977 of Telugus from all over North America and was incorporated in 1978 as a not-for-profit organization. TANA’s mission is to identify and address social, cultural and educational needs of North American Telugu Community in particular and Telugu people in general. TANA aims to perpetuate, integrate, and assimilate the cultural heritage of the Telugu-speaking people into the mainstream of North America. Telugu and Indian ethnic organizations around the world look up to TANA as a pioneer and role model for its various innovations in promoting culture and serving the community.

During its 35 year history, TANA has distinguished itself through its various activities in pursuit of its mission in North America and India. It plays an important role in developing, nurturing, preserving and propagating arts specific to the Telugu people. TANA invites eminent Telugu singers, musicians, dancers, actors, painters, sculptors, poets and other eminent artists so that Telugu people across North America as well as the local connoisseurs can savor the brilliance of Telugu culture and arts. TANA conducts singing and dancing competitions for Telugu youngsters across North America and showcases their talents at the grand biannual conventions. TANA conventions, the gold standards for such ethnic events, gather thousands of Telugus at one place strengthening strong social bonds and creating an environment for the preservation and growth of Telugu culture. TANA’s pioneering sponsorship of Telugu Folk Arts Festivals over the last 15 years helped revive and sustain the dying traditional art forms. TANA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Telugus in various fields thru its Awards for Excellence and the Lifetime Achievement Awards.

After the conference on May 28-29, 1977 in New York was completed successfully, a thought came in to sustain this effort with an umbrella Telugu Association and as a result TANA came into existence. Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao became its first president. TANA was later incorporated in Maryland by a Telugu attorney Mr. Durvasula Sastry in 1978.Initial Three elections to TANA in 1978, 1979 and 1981 were by indirect means through delegates. From the rolls of member associations, a delegate is elected for every 25 members. There were approximately 300 delegates that electe the executive body of TANA

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states of India, home to Telugu people, in pursuit of useful and essential projects in literacy, education, sanitation, disease prevention, health promotion and rehabilitation. TANA Foundation’s Project Envision is well known for the help it provided in restoring eye sight to thousands of rural people. In 2005 and 2009, TANA helped build colonies of homes for people devastated by tsunamis and floods. TANA has founded and maintains a rehabilitation home for street children in Vijayawada. The many projects sponsored by TANA Foundation include building of libraries, schools, temples, roads and protected water supply systems.