| Filmstars, leaders to fill TANA 2007 |
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For the past week or so, every US-bound flight from Hyderabad has
ferried delegates to the land of opportunity for the conference of the
Telugu Association of North America (TANA). Every odd year since 1977, TANA conferences have been held at different venues across the length and breadth of the United States, coinciding with the week-end of the July 4, American Independence Day. The 2007 conference will be held at the Washington Convention Center in the US capital and organisers expect about 10,000 Telugu-speaking people to attend. The galaxy of delegates comprises political leaders cutting across party lines, CEOs of dozens of companies, NRIs with roots in Andhra Pradesh, those known for their cultural and literary traits and the like. Among the star speakers are Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu and the ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ proponent and founder of Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The glamour component will be more-than-adequately filled with the presence of film stars Mahesh Babu, Ileana and others. On behalf of the State Government and in a bid to reinforce Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s appeal made to NRIs on his trip to USA last month, State Ministers Galla Aruna , R. Damodar Reddy (IT) and Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao (Rural Water Supply) will be making their pitch at the business sessions to be held at the Hyatt. The sessions broadly fall in four categories politics, business opportunities, culture and literature. Leading the session on the literary front will be Medasani Mohan. |