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.
TANA takes pride in its efforts to preserve and propagate Telugu language. TANA established and supported several teaching programs in Telugu at various US universities and instituted educational scholarships for needy students. TANA’s biannual novel and short story competitions and sponsorship of publications have acted as a catalyst for new trends in Telugu literature. In addition to publishing rare and important works in Telugu, TANA helped introduce modern Telugu poetry as well as the Telugu classics like Kanyasulkam to non-Telugu speakers thru its subvention of English translations.