The Association of Kannada Kootas of America (AKKA) (Kannada: ಅಮೇರಿಕಾ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕೂಟಗಳ ಆಗರ (ಅಕ್ಕ) ) is a North American nonprofit cultural organization representing regional associations of Kannadigas, commonly known as Kannada Kootas. It was established in February 1998 following a Kannada conference in Phoenix, Arizona, with the stated purpose of coordinating Kannada organizations in the United States and Canada and promoting the Kannada language and the culture of Karnataka.

AKKA organizes the World Kannada Conference, a recurring gathering featuring cultural performances, literary programmes, exhibitions, professional forums, youth activities and appearances by artists and public figures from Karnataka. The organization has also undertaken educational, charitable and community-service activities in Karnataka and North America.

History

AKKA was formed following the World Kannada Sammelana held in Phoenix from 13 to 15 February 1998. According to the preamble to its constitution, participants resolved to establish a central organization that would integrate and coordinate Kannada associations and Kannadigas in North America. The Virginia General Assembly later described AKKA as having been founded at the 1998 Phoenix conference by members of the Kannada community who believed that a central organization was needed in North America.

The first World Kannada Conference organized under the AKKA name was held in Houston, Texas, in 2000. Contemporary reporting on the 2002 conference in Detroit described AKKA as the umbrella organization conducting the event and reported that approximately 4,000 delegates were expected. Its programme included folk and classical dance, Yakshagana, literary activities, exhibitions, a women's forum and business seminars.

In 2001, the Government of Karnataka conferred a Karnataka Rajyotsava Award on “America Kannada Kootagala Agara (AKKA)” in the association and organization category.

In 2009, AKKA opened an office in Bengaluru and established an India coordination committee. The organization stated that the office would support its cultural and charitable work and assist coordination with organizations in Karnataka.

Also in 2009, seven founding members and other members separated from AKKA and established the North America Vishwa Kannada Association. The Times of India reported that the division followed disagreements among members of AKKA's executive committee.

World Kannada Conference

The World Kannada Conference is AKKA's principal recurring public event. It is generally conducted in cooperation with regional Kannada organizations and includes cultural, literary, educational, professional and social programmes. AKKA's official conference archive lists twelve conferences between 2000 and 2024.

+ AKKA World Kannada Conferences No. Year Location Host or participating Kannada Koota AKKA president Conference convenor(s) Notable guests or participants Sources 1st 2000 Houston, Texas Kannada Vrinda, Houston Amarnath Gowda — U. R. Ananthamurthy; Girish Karnad 2nd 2002 Detroit, Michigan Pampa Kannada Koota, Detroit Amarnath Gowda — 3rd 2004 Orlando, Florida Sri Gandha Kannada Koota, Amarnath Gowda Dr. Renuka Ramappa — 4th 2006 Baltimore, Maryland Kaveri Kannada Association (MD, DC, VA) Dr. Kudur Murali Ravi Dankanikote Suresh Ramachandra Dy CM of Karnataka Sri. B. S. Yediyurappa Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade

Ravi Shankar

HH Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji 5th 2008 Chicago, Illinois Vidyaranya Kannada Koota, Chicago Ramesh Gowda Mokshagundam Jayaram

Shivamurthy Keelara

Vasanthi Gowda Bharatanatyam performers from SOS Children's Village, Bengaluru Chief Minister of Karnataka: B. S. Yediyurappa 6th 2010 Edison, New Jersey Brindavana Kannada Koota, NJ Ravi Dankanikote Prasanna Madhu Rangaiah Shankar Shetty 7th 2012 Atlanta, Georgia Nrupathunga Kannada Koota, Atlanta Dayashankar Adappa Ramaswamy Srinivas Srivijay Smt. Sudha Murthy 8th 2014 San Jose, California Kannada Koota of Northern California Dr. Halekote Vishwamitra Suresh Babu Raghu Halur Ravishankar Byrappagowda — 9th 2016 Atlantic City, New Jersey — Raj Patil Sharath Bhandary — 10th 2018 Dallas, Texas Mallige Kannada Association of North Texas Shivamurthy Keelara Srivatsa Ramanathan Anuradha Tavarekere — 11th 2020 Online — Tumkur Dayananda — — 12th 2024 Richmond, Virginia Richmond Kannada Sangha and Kaveri Kannada Association (MD, DC, VA) Ravi Boregowda Naveen Krishna Haridas T. Lahari Shanmugan Iyer --- 13th2026Philadelphia, PA ---Madhu Rangaiah

Programs and activities

Cultural and literary activities

AKKA and its affiliated organizations conduct programmes involving Kannada music, dance, theatre, literature and folk traditions. The programme of the 2002 conference included Dollu Kunitha, Yakshagana, classical and fusion dance, poetry, essays, Kannada reading, religious seminars, arts exhibitions and public performances.

The conferences also provide opportunities for performers and students based in India and North America. In 2008, two engineering students from SOS Children's Village in Bengaluru were selected to receive recognition for Bharatanatyam performances at the AKKA conference in Chicago.

Community initiatives

In 2003, AKKA announced plans for a counselling and referral network for Kannada-speaking women in the United States experiencing domestic abuse, marital difficulties or social isolation. The proposed network was to involve Kannada Kootas as well as legal, psychological and nonprofit professionals.

Business and professional programmes

Business forums and professional networking have formed part of AKKA's conferences. The 2002 Detroit programme included business seminars and commercial exhibitions alongside cultural and literary activities.

Charitable activities

AKKA states that its charitable activities have included providing books, clothing and school materials to children in Karnataka, assisting primary schools with building improvements, contributing to disaster-relief efforts and supporting health-related projects.

In 2009, The Times of India reported that AKKA was working with the Sankara Eye Foundation on eye-hospital projects in Karnataka. The organization also announced a blood-donation drive in the United States for Karnataka Rajyotsava Day.

Organization and governance

AKKA is structured as an association of regional Kannada Kootas in the United States and Canada. Its constitution provides for an executive committee, a board of trustees and representation from affiliated organizations. The affiliated associations retain responsibility for their regional cultural, educational and social programmes.

Recognition

The Government of Karnataka conferred a Karnataka Rajyotsava Award on AKKA in 2001 in the association and organization category.

See also

Kannada people Kannada language Karnataka Indian Americans Indian Canadians North America Vishwa Kannada Association

References

External links