TANA in Turmoil
Telugu Association of North America (TANA) was officially formed in 1978. Initially it consisted only of local and regional Telugu Associations in North America. It reached a membership of about 10,000 in the 1990’s. Individual life memberships were added in the early 1990’s.
Over the past 30 years, TANA earned a good reputation among Telugus in North America and Andhra Pradesh. However, in the past few years TANA reputation took a big hit due to allegations of membership and voter fraud.
Due to allegations of fraud in the 2003 elections, only life members were permitted to vote. Since then local and regional Telugu Associations stayed away from TANA and none of the local or regional Telugu Associations in North America are currently members of TANA.
In 2004, the total members of TANA were around 4,000. After the 2005 elections, a small group of people got together and decided to pad the membership rolls so that no one else not sanctioned by this group can win in future TANA elections.
They increased the total membership to around 7,000 and boasted that no one else could dare to contest and win in future elections. There were only two contests for association-wide elections and the people who padded the voter rolls swept to power and are in absolute control of the organization.
The current President of TANA, Mr. Prabhakar Chowdary Kakarala, was elected in 2005 as the President-Elect and moved up to his current position in 2007. Since the group elected in 2007 has full control of the Executive Committee (EC), they prevented the President from doing anything in the past 9 months.
His decision to appoint an independent committee to review new membership applications was voided so that they can keep full control of the membership rolls. The rest of EC did not agree with his decision to appoint a qualified and respected person who has strong support from the Florida Telugu community to serve as the Coordinator for the 2009 TANA Conference in Florida.
Going against past practices of TANA in the selection of a Conference Coordinator, they picked a novice who does not enjoy the support of the local Telugu community for this position. They control the TANA Patrika and the TANA website. The President is not even allowed to express his own views in the President’s Message published in every TANA Patrika.
The silent majority of TANA could not sit still and watch TANA’s reputation tarnished by the members, gofers, and, goons of a small group of people that have no respect for honesty and integrity. So the silent majority has decided to fight head on and bring their beloved TANA back to normalcy and restore its reputation. Â
The silent majority undertook a vigorous membership drive and joined thousands of new members. We do not know the final number yet as this group runs its activities in a secretive fashion. But based on various regional reports, it appears that the membership total jumped explosively from 7,000 to around 35,000. We have to wait and see to find out the games the current Executive Committee is going to play.
We understand that there is an active lawsuit filed against TANA in a Maryland court by TANA members. Â
Rama Mohana Rao Vadlamudi,
Ex-TANA President
Ex-Chairman, TANA Board of Trustees
Satish Padarthi | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
Hey sunita
Asalu inthaki veella godava enti,,,,Ikkada desi gallu asalu help cheyyaruuuu ,,,inka chance dorikithey torture pedatharu ,,aaaa mathram ki eee thokkalo associations enduku
jilani | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
When they are at it, they should also change the name to KANA (Kamma Association of North America).
helloap | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
Mari ikkada kooda manaki caste ruchi vundaligaa.
Raja | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
Hi Mr. Satish, that is the exact reason for the rebel.Here we pay dues and support the association and the the so called leaders(?) go to India and try to get favours politically and financially.Here as a community we have so many problems but they don’t care!!Eg:Students from Andhra come here for higher education. If they don’t know any one in the city they land imagine their plight.There are some violences in the families and if they don’t have friends what is plight of the women. No one in the current commities in TANA cares about them.But we celebrate and showcase TANA in AP.WHY??? Selfservice!!If TANA accounts are audited we will know how much money is being used for selfservice.Tickets from India were bought for their friends, business partners, Hotel rooms were alloted on TANA account for those.And many more…There were no receipts for somany things for which TANA paid.Some more to come..
peter | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
raja neeku chala vishayalu telusu
raja | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
Peter basu, naaku thelisindi chala thakkuva.Inka chala gooduputhani vundata! Chooddam!!
Vamsi | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
AFAIK the early immigrants to US are primarily Doctors and professors etc. They seem to occupy the top level positions in TANA (and of course every single association I see except that of Gujarati associations). When they are super rich, why do they behave so cheap like getting freebies on TANA account. So cheap…
Actually I was planning to attend TANA celebrations this year. But I may thing twice..
peter | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
wow interesting…
Raja garu konchem light veyyochu kadha..I am really interested to know whatz happening inside of TANA..
helloap | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
Avunu mari.dhaantlo antha dabbulu lekuntey janalau TANA post la kosam endhuku egabaduthaaru.
helloap | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
I heard AATA is reddy’s and TANA is kamma’s and TDF is telaganites.Edu samudhralu dhaatina mana vallu budhi ponichukoru
gotcha | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
kaneesam TANA scholarships istundi MS lo kondariki if they are willing to sponsor other student once they get job,ATA adi kuda ledu kada.
gangleader | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
Peter,
Sunita Akkai TANA 2007 attend ayindhi. avidane adugu TANA-scame chakkaga cheputharu.
sachin | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
silent majority okko member ni enni paisalu petti konnaru? controlling group enni paisalu petti konnaru? counts, collections and rates pettandi akkayya
girish | Mar 19, 2008 | Reply
Every Telugu in the US knows that TANA is overwhelmingly dominated by one particular community.The office bearer elections are a show of power by these folks.I am not blaming anyone but it is the truth.To some of them, the others donot belong in the show they run.
420 | Mar 20, 2008 | Reply
nenu kooda TANA lo join ayyanu(margadarsi style lo)…ee membership drive ento, voddura babu ante kooda join cheyinchaaru , chass
gangleader | Mar 20, 2008 | Reply
naaku 50 dollar offer ochindi. per person new joinee cheyyipisthe.. ha ha
boledu mandhini cheripiccha, cheti ninda dabbu.. ha ha
Tiger of usa | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
present EC Committee they want MLA seats and MP seat otherwise they need some big projects in Andhra pradesh. IN 2007 TANA washington DC every board member they did not serve for the public . they served for Chandrababu and his polite bure members and cine heroines. that is the happening in tana. tana means to serve those who are having problems in United States form telugu people. REMEMBER PRESENT TANA COMMITTE
Tiger of usa | Mar 24, 2008 | Reply
TANA IS NOT FOR KAMMAS, EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND TANA IS FOR EVERYBODY
NO CASTE FOR TANA
VIKRAM | Mar 26, 2008 | Reply
I had a very key active role in recent TANA conference in Washington DC. It is true that this organization is dominated by Kammas, but others also contributed to its success. When it comes to key posts and chairs, only Kammas are/were considered. CO-ordinator for the last conference is a very nice guy, but there are other chamchas under the guidance of present TANA Joint Treasurer who looted thousands of Dollars. They made a killing, made abundant business & political contacts. I wish I met Sunita gaaru when she was in DC.
gangleader | Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
Okari Kosam andarooo, andarooo kosam Okaru…
ahe mana TANA…TANA…TANDANA…. muffiyyar ..muffiyyar..
prasad | Apr 4, 2008 | Reply
hi All,
TANA gurinchi naku koncham cheppare please.nenu recent ga vachanu US anduke naku teliyadu.
Pina matter antha chadivainaku nakuoka vishyam ardama ayindi something is wrong in TANA.
manam ala comment chese badule why can’t we try to correct them.
prasanna | Apr 4, 2008 | Reply
hi! I want to attend tana in june 2008 I believe it is in new jersy please send me the dates and adress of the convention and i also want to put up a stall to promote our product pl let me know the stall details also.we can plan accordingly
Dr. Sunil | Apr 5, 2008 | Reply
> I heard AATA is reddy’s and TANA is kamma’s
> and TDF is telaganites.Edu samudhralu dhaatina
> mana vallu budhi ponichukoru
Bingo! I never enrolled into any organization in US, not even my sisters! It’s all because where ever Indians try to move they wanna create a *mini* India. We don’t need to join in TANA, ATA or WHATEVER, hardly of any use ground reality per se. Main problem is age old; there is no unity between Indians compared to Non Resident Chinese. It’s really shame on such NRIs!!
kalyan | Jul 5, 2008 | Reply
v want al Bcs to come out and start
BANA
and SANA for SC…ST
for TELUGU thurkis(who follow islam) ALLAANA
for rayalaseema devolopment RANA
for telugu women….wana
for christians eesuana
for chiru fans chiana (kapu brothers)
for k.c.r fans kana
mee notla mannu pada
stop this evil…..it will harm our telugu harmony
or else
@****@
Rachana | Jul 15, 2008 | Reply
Dr.Sunil and Kalyan:
Well said, I am slowly knowing about these organizations - TANA, ATA, TDF, TENA
We Telugu-ites seem to the biggest racists and can never be united.
VENKATESWARLU | Aug 20, 2008 | Reply
IS there any chance for me to attend TANA Mahasabalu next year or only rich people can attend.
If sponsored im willing to share valuable information on Education in India and what we can do to improve the same and be responsible to reduce poverty.
MAA OORU BADI
MY MOBILE NO :09908664029
roopa | Sep 10, 2008 | Reply
Its a real shame that we see kullu rajakeeyalu in these organizations such as ATA, TANA…etc
Its very sad and a impact on 2nd to now 3rd generation teluguites
Probably now a new organization will come up in conjunction to Chirajeevi party
– Will this ever stop????
Kishore Kanth | Oct 1, 2008 | Reply
You have to read the “Shame on You” letter in namasthe andhra. Amazing letter about TANA.
http://namastheandhra.com/newsdetails.asp?newsid=1646
Annoyed | Oct 8, 2008 | Reply
The 1.5, 2nd and 3rd generation Telugus think you’re all weird and are blind and ignorant when it comes to caste. We find it amusing that all while we grew up participating in TANA/ATA and the various local TA’s regardless of whatever our caste ethnicity is, that it is brought up ad nauseum. Usually by some ignorant F.O.B. For those of us brought up here, we know what our ethnic background is, Hindu/Telugu/Kamma/Brahmin/Reddy etc. and it has the caste thing for most of us has very little bearing on us. We have more important things to worry about than what some thickly accented uncle in a mixture of pidgin English and Telugu is frothing at the mouth about. WE do not care about “Chiru” or the TDP or all the other nonsense. We’re busy trying to hang on to our cultural heritage in the face of the pressures we deal with on an everyday basis growing up in the States. I guess we’re the new caste, the telugu americans, and we’re quite tired of the mob of fobs with the crazy Indian politics, the caste nonsense that they bring with them from India, and their annoying conduct during functions. The next generations will be just fine, we see this crap with the aunties and uncles for what it is. Don’t worry about us.
Though if you’d like to spend some time worry about stuff how about asking both parties what exactly they’re doing? Why are they endorsing two different conventions, why have they signed two different contracts? Why are they abusing each other? Do they understand how to read the bylaws that are posted? Does either possess a Robert’s Rules and do they need someone to translate it to them?
Also, FYI IRS audits are usually taken several years after irregularities arise, weren’t the people in charge of stuff just shuffled around a bit then? Also why is there such a dearth of information out there that is not horrifically biased? Why are all these outside idiots chiming in with their “kamma” hating?
You people who’ve never been to the states, and who’re still recovering from jet lag after arriving here just don’t get it. Before the FOB mob descended here, bringing with them their myopic antiquated views, that we were a community that, while aware of our different caste identities got along quite well together? That those of us who grew up here think of our neighbors be they Brahmin, Reddy, Kamma or whatever are part of our extended family? Stop injecting all this hate into it, and look at what happened here. Since the situation is being all murked up by the various frothing onlookers injecting their idiocy, how about holding the GB and the Kakarala Gang accountable?
Interestingly enough posted here are all the so-called articles posted online that are biased towards the rogue ex president, there are others out there that question what they are doing, their logic and the logic of the GB. Perhaps this is the American part of me overcoming the Telugu part, but how about some dialogue and some accountability for the crazy things that are coming out? Instead of last minute meetings, secret e-mails and cross fire of press releases that seem to be written by retarded monkeys?
Or is that just a little too much to ask?
Go On, Annoyed! | Oct 18, 2008 | Reply
Annoyed, you are so right about the FOB caste sentiment. I grew up here in the States on the East Coast in the 70’s and 80’s. We were thrilled to even have Indian friends, much less worry about whether they were Telugu or not. Those were the days when there were so few Indian families, that everyone knew everyone pretty much, especially if you were active in the commmunity. I echo the sentiment; we, the subsequent generations of Indian Americans, are proud to be Telugu, and we care about our families and our community. Caste has no bearing on our lives. So do us all a favor, and solve your problems. TANA has become an embarrassment to the Telugu community.
hyderabad | Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
“MANA(TANA,ATA) VALLU OTTI VEDHAVAILO” annaru mana peddavallu.
nellore | Nov 12, 2008 | Reply
TANA and ATA organizations are only for ‘Fresh off the Boat’ Uncles and Aunts of the yesteryears and not for a decent, intelligent, matured, ‘globalized’ Indian youth.
These idiot Uncles and Aunts bring their ignorance, corruption, out-of-touch social values into these functions.
Get over with these stupid, corrupted, ‘ancient’ organizations and get involved in community work in your adopted country (ex- USA, Canada, Germany, UK, Dubai and whatever…. ) and blend with the local culture.
texasaggie | Nov 18, 2008 | Reply
Annoyed, I am glad that you do not have any prejudice against anyone just because they are form a particular caste, however, am kind of apalled at your dismissal of all ‘FOB’ uncles and aunts with their accents… for all the ‘Telugu’ feeling some ‘ABCD’s profess in these comments, I was and am welcomed into social circles of all kinds, including Japanese and Texan, but not fellow ABCDs.
I met an aunty at a local temple five years ago who was very nice and socialized with them. In the third meeting there was the question “Are you in TANA or ATA?”, My response that I wasnt in either and I dont plan on joining them, put them off and havent heard from them since.
As per the jet lagged of us who bring our casteism from the mortherland, kudos on irgnorance and generalizing and keep on working with TANA or ATA or BATA or whichever org. suits your parent’s caste.
All I want to do is attend and if possible help co-ordinate some good classical music/dance shows, some good food festivals and possibly literary get togethers… But I would not subscribe to any prejudices for that (face it, atleast three comments here are prejudiced against people like me who are ‘FOBs’)
Kalyan… “mee notla mannu pada”… ROFLMAO
rajesh | Nov 19, 2008 | Reply
ONLY RICH PEOPLE CAN ATTEND IN TANA or ATA
rajesh | Nov 19, 2008 | Reply
WELL SAID