Ravi receiving the Award
By Ravi R Ponangi
Atlanta:
Pomp and gaiety added to the show of strength, solidarity and pride of the Telugu-speaking community at the 12th American Telugu Association (ATA) Conference and Youth Convention held here during July 6-8. The three-day conference saw a turnout of 8,000 delegates not only from different cities across the US, but also from India, Canada, Britain and Dubai.
The grand celebration was attended by M. M. Pallam Raju, India’s Minister of State for Defense; Upendra Chivukula, Deputy Speaker of New Jersey Assembly; D.K. Aruna, Information Minster of Andhra Pradesh; D. Sridhar Babu, Andhra Pradesh Education Minister; and two parliament members, Madhu Yaskhi Gowd and Md. Azharuddin, besides a host of politicians, acclaimed personalities of Tollywood, literary scholars and artists from Andhra Pradesh.
Distinguished personalities included Dil Raju, Ajit Kumar, consul general of India in Atlanta, Sobha Naidu, Padmaja Reddy, Goreti Venkanna, Thaman, Garikipati Narasimha Rao, Nandamuri Lakshmi Parvathy, Ileana, and the past presidents of ATA graced the celebration.
Besides regular features and attractions such as spectacular cultural shows, ATA delegates benefited from the workshops and seminars held during convention. Seminars were held in different areas of specializations. Events included a variety of programs in various arenas including social, spiritual, cultural, literary, art, entertainment, business and medicine. Several vendors also put up their booths on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural ceremony on July 7, Pallam Raju highlighted the achievements of India in various fields and explained the problems that India was facing. He said that the country was facing two internal problems. Suddenly the economy in the country had slowed down and security had become an issue. He said India was playing a major role on world stage. He hoped that India would become a powerful country in the world by 2050. India had been elected as a temporary member in the UN Security Council and the country was working to become its permanent member. “Now India has too many responsibilities. We have to question ourselves whether we are ready to take those responsibilities. We are confronting many internal security challenges as well as economic challenges. Due to the economic crises in the world, our economy too is affected badly. I am confident that our economy will bounce back soon,” he said.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Indian economy would improve. India would be working towards economic integration and thereby bringing economic stability in the South Asian region.
Speaking about security, he said a variety of programs were being taken to strengthen the defense of the country.
Referring to Andhra Pradesh, the Minister said that the state had rich resources like minerals, land, manpower, and entrepreneurs. “Telugu speaking people are on top in every field. Andhra Pradesh has a great potential to grow more. Many able chief ministers had taken the state forward in development. Now Kiran Kumar Reddy as the Chief Minister at a crucial time is implementing various programs to take the state forward. I am confident that you are all thinking like me and I want you all to take the state forward,” he added.
Speaking about the separate Telengana state demand, he said: “In my personal opinion the state should be united as it has its own merits and we get strength, if we are united in one state.”
D. K. Aruna, D. Sridhar Babu, Ravi Prakash, CEO of TV9 channel, and others spoke.
The banquet dinner on July 6 included a reception and a social hour for guests of the convention. D.K. Aruna lighted the traditional lamp to mark the inauguration of the events that followed. A long awards ceremony followed the welcome speech, and the executive team was introduced by Dr. Mangaraju Vanapalli.
Dr. Rao S. Rapaka was honored for biomedical research, Dr. Lakkireddy Hanimi Reddy, was honored with the Philanthropist of the Decade Award; ATA distinguished award winners from Atlanta included Dr. Sivananda Nyayapati, Dr. P. Ravi Sarma, Narender G. Reddy and Ravi Ponangi.
“It feels great to be amongst my countrymen and I am proud of how well they have done for themselves here,” Mohammed Azharuddin, the former Indian Cricket Captain, said when asked about how it felt to be at the convention.
The second day festivities kicked off with the invocation and lighting of the lamp, singing of Vande Maataram and national anthems. After the Swagatham song, ATA messages by TAMA, GATA, ATA Convener Karunakar Asireddy, Youth Forum Chair Prashanth Paripati, ATA President Dr. Rajender Jinna, ATA Board, Standing Committee chairs and regional coordinators, and a spiritual message by Swami Chidatmananda followed. As chief guest, Pallam Raju addressed the gathering after the inaugural theme dance in praise of Telugu heritage and release of the inaugural CD.
Various Cultural programs including classical, semi-classical, folk dances, music, skits and plays were lined up to enthrall and entertain the audience. Prime-time entertainment began with an invocatory Kuchipudi dance – Om Namah Sivaya – choreographed by Hema Shilpa Uppala and presented by her, Reneeta Basu, and Puja Tripuraneni. Emceed by Shilpa Chakroborthy, the program included Kuchipudi dances, music performances, a fashion show, a fusion dance, a romantic thriller “Haunted Love,” Tollywood Dhamaka, “Telugu Pandugalu,” and ATA honors and recognition of conference donors and others. A live telecast of presentation of ATA lifetime achievement award to Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam in Chennai was shown on the big screen. It was followed by Kuchipudi offering “Nrityanjali,” comedy skit “Americallo Manoorollu,” Gaeya Rupa Kavitvam by Gorati Venkanna and a comedy show by Tollywood actors.
The July 8 proceedings started off with the invocation and semi classical melodies by Dr. Jayaprada Ramamurthy and Ashtavashanam by Garikipati Narasimha Rao. “Sunanda Vinodini II,” continued to dazzle the audience with the finals of Jhummandi Naadam and ATA 2012 Solo Dance Talent. Winners of various contests were announced. Prime-time entertainment, emceed by Jitendranath, included Dazzling Dhamaka by Detroit Sizzlers, a dance performance by winner of ATA 2012 solo dance talent search, Namasthe India by Dr. Padmaja Reddy and group, honoring of Dr. Sobha Naidu and Kuchipudi performance by her students, mimicry by Jitendranath, presentation of ATA Outstanding Philanthropist Award to Dr. Hanmi Reddy Lakkireddy, presentation of honors and awards to Ravi Prakash of TV9 and members of convention committees, and the much awaited “ATA Raffle Draw.” The night ended on a high note with “Taaralu Digivacchina Vela,” a musical performance, by Thaman and party.
Other events included business seminars, alumni meetings carom, chess and jodinchu tournaments, CME, literary discussions, immigration issues, senior citizens programs, focus on breathing, essence of Vedas, Art of Living, and live political debates and discussions by Indian politicians telecast by TV9 and TV5.
source: http://www.indiatribune.com / Home> Newspaper> Community / July 2012