Padmasri Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad felcitating Dr. Joyce Flueckiger

Emory University introduces Telugu Course

By Ravi R. Ponangi


Atlanta, Georgia:
At the Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta (TAMA) meeting recently held at Ashiana banquet hall at Global Mall, Dr. Joyce Flueckiger, Director of South Asian Studies Program at Emory University said “A lot of enthusiasm is being shown by several people in the history, language culture of Telugu. There are many people, who are very enthusiastic to learn Telugu. We are excited to inform you that we started teaching Telugu last semester with the help of Prof. Velcheru Narayana Rao. Prof. Narayana Rao had originally started at the University of Wisconsin-Madison which is only the place in the US to teach this language”.

Dr. Joyce Flueckiger expatiated at length her experience with the Telugu community and how Prof. Velcheru Narayana Rao introduced her to the rich Telugu heritage. Briefing the audience about the progress made on the Telugu initiative at Emory she said: “We raised $ 100, 000 from community, and the Emory University has matched more than that. It has permitted us to bring Prof. Velcheru Narayana Rao here to the university last semester to teach Telugu language. Emory University is funding for four semesters to senior professor. We decided to use that initial money to teach culture, history and language. We use a different approach. We used differently than other universities used. Some universities used funding to teach language and then done nothing. But we tried to raise interest in language first by reading Annmayya in English to our students. If they read Annamayya, they will show interest to learn Telugu to read in original. When Prof. Narayana Rao was here he taught two courses. One graduate course and another one under graduate course. Interest in both the courses by students was just enthusiastic. Our goal in fund raising in the community is $ 200, 000 and the next $100,000 we use for language teaching”.

Dr. Joyce Flueckiger further announced that the university has created a permanent endowment chair for Telugu culture, history and language. “We see an advantage in that we see in this country presidents of universities come and go. They all have their own programs and projects. If we have a dean or a professor they come and speak about Telugu. If we raise money for permanent position, it will be there for ever. We have an anonymous donor to get permanently endowed chair together for 1.5 million. We have another anonymous donor who has promised for $ 750, 000. Some companies do business in India. Most of the companies have channels to give money to these kinds of causes. Reddy Labs, NIIT and other companies are good to start”.


Padmasri Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, President of AP Hindi academy and former Rajya Sabah member, said: “It is glorious moment that Telugu history, culture and language are being taught here in Emory university with the help of community. This is the result of dynamism that is flowing here.” He promised the community that he would work to extend all necessary cooperation through Telugu University and International Telugu Institute, Hyderabad.


Dr. Rallabandi Kavita Prasad, Director, Department of Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh, commended the enthusiasm shown by upholding the culture and heritage of Telugus in America. Another notable guest in the meeting was Ghazal Srinivas who volunteered to give a Ghazal night in Atlanta to raise funds for Telugu initiative at Emory.


Though the Telugu community initiated the efforts long back to introduce teaching of Telugu language at Emory University, the return of Dr. V.R. Velar, an alumnus of Emory, to Atlanta has given the required impetus to the efforts to teach Telugu at Emory University.


Dr. Nagendra Srinivas Kodali and Srini Lavu sponsored the TAMA meeting and the response was truly over whelming.

Offering Telugu Studies will encourage students from the professional schools (Public Health, law, and Business) to obtain a better understanding of the Telugu culture to subsequently apply it to their respective fields for greater research in South India. This will facilitate Public Health students to study HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh, students from the Business School to serve as interns with businesses in Hyderabad, and Medical School students and residents to work in various medical fields in Andhra. Armed with the knowledge of Telugu Studies gained at Emory, these students and professors will be able to more effectively conduct research as professionals in Andhra Pradesh.