Inside TANA

TANA was founded in 1977 to preserve and propagate the Telugu cultural heritage and maintain the identity of people of Telugu origin and to provide a forum for Telugu literary, cultural, educational, social, and charitable interactions among its members. Now TANA is one of the largest Indo-American associations with more than 10,000 members. Anyone can join TANA by donating US$ 5,000 or more or with bi annual fee of $30.

Having said all that, TANA organizing committee had no issues for almost 10 years, in 1988 and 89 lot of political drama took place and finally in 1990 part of the association separated and formed Amerian Telugu Association (ATA). After that TANA and ATA technically belong to two major communities.

Coming to their service and functionality, let's talk about TANA first. TANA became a joke in last few years. Last time it was Dasari and YSR who were invited. This time it's Balakrishna and CBN. In my opinion TANA wants to erase the label that it belongs to one of leading communities and show Telugu world that they are open to everybody. That's why there was little encouragement for other communities in TANA committees and when you talk to any senior member they will remind u that ATA is part of TANA.

TANA is now an event to celebrate but not to function. Most of the members who are donating huge amounts are interested in some favor back from CBN in next term elections. CBN is a leader of opposition party backhome, he needs to be respected but not like he is visiting Vijayawada for political campaingn. Because ATA invited Chiranjeevi, TANA looked for NBK and CBN. and now TANA is looking like a festival for one community, where ATA looked more cheap and the character artists attended these functions are being treated as something else.

Both of these associations never helped Telugu students, Telugu wives, Telugu parents. But they want some kind of association to boast about their money and wisdom under the TELUGU tag. True hypocrites.