Telugu initiative at Emory University

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Minister for State for Defense Pallam Raju, Rajender Dichpally and Dr. Rajender Reddy Jinna (President, American Telugu Association)

ATLANTA, Georgia: The renowned Emory University has started a Telugu Initiative to raise money to establish an endowed chair in Telugu Studies in order to teach Telugu literature, culture, and history on a permanent basis at Emory. Emory University, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is already well known for its program in Kuchipudi dance and Telugu cultural studies. Emory has on its faculty luminaries such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and former American president Jimmy Carter.

The Telugu Initiative at Emory University is directed by Professor Joyce Flueckiger (Department of Religion) who is well-connected with Andhra, and has conducted anthropological fieldwork in Hyderabad and Tirupati that has resulted in the publication of two books focused on Andhra religious traditions.
She works closely with Dr. Velcheru Narayana Rao, distinguished visiting Professor at the University. They have already raised over $750 thousand for this initiative and are looking for active support and donations for another $750 thousand to establish a permanent Telugu Chair at Emory University.

The Union Minister of State for Defense Pallam Raju visited Emory University on July 7 to learn about and offer his support of the Telugu initiative. He exchanged ideas with the Emory faculty promoting the initiative and expressed his appreciation for the goals of the initiative. He offered his support in efforts to obtain financial support from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. He expressed keen interest in the museum of art and literature at Emory University and spent some time in exploring important land marks and checking the vast campus of the Emory University. He was accompanied on this visit by MLC Magam Ranga Reddy, Rajender Dichpally, and other members from the Telugu associations of Atlanta.

India Post News Service