Koppaka Family Donates $750,000 to Emory University by RAVI R
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8 NRI PULSE ........City News........ January 2010 Koppaka Family Donates $750,000 To Emory University BY RAVI R. PONANGI tion. An additional $ 750,000 dollars are necessary to tablishment of a permanent, endowed professor- for a single meal each day, a practice known in establish a permanent chair. The Telugu Community ship in Telugu language and culture at Emory Uni- Telugu as Vaarulu and the persistence instilled by Atlanta: The need for establishing a Telugu here and in North America has an opportunity to par- versity. Dr. Ram Koppaka, son of Visweswara his parents, Dr. Rao excelled in high school and Chair at a university in North America was first ticipate in the realization of this dream. Rao, said the gift represented the fulfillment of college and went on to receive a D.Sc. in Organic brought to the attention of the Telugu Americans The Koppaka Family Foundation has gifted his parent’s dream of sharing their passion for Chemistry from Andhra University at the age of at a Telugu Symposium held in Atlanta in 1998 South Indian culture and 23. Although married with an infant daughter, he organized by the Vanguri Foundation of America. Telugu language with others. left India in 1948 on a government of India scholarship The idea took concrete form almost seven Dr. Koppaka Visweswara to pursue further studies in the US. He returned to his years later when Emory University showed inter- Rao’s success story is known to family five years later, having earned a second PhD and est in starting a Telugu studies program as part of many. He was born in a village in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin. The its South Asian Studies. In response to this inter- Vempadu in West Godavari dis- family ultimately immigrated to the US in 1954 and est, the Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta trict of Andhra Pradesh, India, in began a new life in this country. Dr. Rao joined the staff (TAMA) raised about $100,000 as seed money. 1925. He grew up in poverty. of Chas. Pfizer, Inc. and soon became manager of chemi- This included $25000 raised by the Academy of He was the first in his village to cal research of the company’s cancer research program. Kuchipudi Dance through their fund raising event, obtain a doctorate degree and go This period was highly successful, earning him an inter- the Kuchipudi dance drama Swapnavijayam (Nut- to the United States for fur- national reputation for skill in the isolation of natural cracker). With this fund, Emory was able to invite ther studies. A scientist who products with antitumor activity. Of the 30 agents he Prof V. Narayana Rao as visiting professor teach- enjoyed the process of re- discovered, which were subjected to human clinical ing Telugu literature for two semesters. Emory search, he continued to work trials, one compound, mithramycin, was ultimately ap- has matched these funds and committed additional in the lab, write grants, and proved by the FDA and is still in clinical use today. Dr. funds by deciding to invite Prof. Rao for five more Visweswara Rao Rao Koppaka with his wife Sita Koppaka. supervise graduate students Rao left Pfizer in 1969 to join the faculty of the College years to the campus to teach subjects on Telugu well after he turned 70. He of Pharmacy at the University of Florida. In addition to literature and culture and history. $750,000 to Emory University for the establishment was also a pharmacy professor who had a life- continuing his research, he developed a passion for The goal is to establish a permanent chair for of a professorship in Telugu language, South Indian long love for learning and teaching. He was a me- teaching, an endeavor in which he also excelled. Telugu Studies at Emory University. Towards the cultures, literatures, and history in memory of their dicinal chemist, but not a doctor. He was taught at Dr Rao passed away in 1998. In the last two fulfillment of this objective Emory has already parents Visweswara Rao Koppaka and Sita Koppaka. a young age that education was his only path out years of his life, Dr. Rao expressed a desire to received $750,000 from the Koppaka Family Founda- The family is strongly committed to the es- of poverty. Often relying on the charity of others share his interest in South Indian classical music and the arts with younger generations of Indians raised in the US as well as Americans, who are Dance Recital Raises Funds For HTA Yaaga Saala interested in learning about the rich cultural and BY JYOTHSNA HEDGE language traditions of Andhra Pradesh. Realizing “Nursery Rhymes”, a unique blend of east Dr. Hyma Mikkilineni, the President of HTA that it was through the charity of others that he Atlanta: Students of Bhavini Rajan presented and west was presented by 5 year old kids who thanked Bhavini for her efforts and passion in raising was able to complete his education and become a a Bharatanatyam extravaganza, Samarpanam 2009 depicted nursery Rhymes such as “Jack and Jill” funds for the Yaaga Saala. She also appealed to public successful scientist, he very much wanted to re- on Dec 19th, 2009 at the Hindu Temple of Atlanta support for the temple projects. She also quoted from and “Twinkle Twinkle little star” in Bharatanatyam Continued on Pg 21..... as a Fund Raiser for the Yaaga Saala project of HTA. mudras. “Jatiswaram” in Vasantha Ragam and Newsweek magazine that recognized Hinduism on a The program offered a wide range of dance Rupakam Taalam”, a pure dance set to musical national platform. She talked about Yoga and Medita- sequences choreographed by Bhavini Rajan. Bhavini, notes with no abhinaya was next. “Sabdam” en- tion playing important roles in areas of back pain etc. Postage With an accomplished dancer has graduated from Shri tertained the audience in RaagaMalika Ragam and After a short break was the presentation of Satguru Sangeeta Samajam in Ramayana. The epic was depicted Images Of Deities Madurai. She has been a student through an Introduction and Sloka Padmashrei Leela Samson. Along with from Valmiki Ramayana followed by Atlanta: Usa-postage.com, an Alpharetta based Bharatanatyam, she has also learned Sriramachandra in Yaman Ragam and postage company has created seven spiritual designs Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi. Misra Chapu talam composed by that have special appeal for The evening began with a Prayer Tulsidas. This part talked about who the Indian community in followed by “Pushpanjali” in Rama was. Next was Janaki Ramana the US. For the first time, Gambheera Nattai Ragam and Adi is Kapi Ragam and Adi Taalam com- real U.S. postage depicting Taalam - a dance that is generally posed by Vanamala Jeer. This part was Sai Baba, Goddess performed first, to welcome the au- about Rama who was Janaki’s hus- Lakshmi, Lord dience. “Chidambaram band and son of Dasaratha. The se- Venkateshwara, Murugan, Natesa(Shiva) Kauthuvam” in quence Sita Kalyanam describing the Vinayaka, Shiva – Parvathi Varaaali Ragam and Adi Taalam was wedding of Rama and Sita was in and Sri Krishna are available on 20-stamp commemora- next. This dance was in praise of Kuranji Ragam and Khanda Chapu tive sheets. These are exclusive designs not available Lord Shiva. This fast paced piece taalam composed by Thyagaraja. anywhere else, according to a press release issued by had poses of Shiva dacing with drum Eppadimanam, in Husseni Ragam and the company. in one hand. As part of the Misra Chapu taalam composed by “Customized postage is fun and gets attention! Kauthuvam, rhythmic Arunachala Kavirayar depicted Sita ask- Choose your favorite image from the Usa-postage.com syllablescalled chollukatts are intertwined with the Misra Chapu Taalam. Sabdam is an introductory ing Rama to take her to the forest with him. Kahan Ke store and use it for day-to-day mail, special occasions lyrics of the song. Hence both nritta (footwork) piece for abhinaya and is a mixture of steps and Pathik which describes villagers talking to Sita was in or give the sheets as gifts. Sheets are available in $0.44 and abhinaya (expressions) are components of the expression. The Sabdam presented was in praise Kuranji Ragam and Tisranada taalam composed by for first-class letters,” says the release. choreography. “Thodaya Mangalam” in Nattai of Lord Krishna. The next dance “Kavadi Attam”, Tulsidas. Ramachandraya Janaka in Kuranji Ragam and USA postage, tries to encourage fund raising ac- Ragam and Adi Taalam, an invocatory dance gen- is a dance to worship Lord Murugan. It is per- Adi taalam composed by Bhadrachala Ramadas, the tivities in the Indian community and for temples across erally performed at the beginning of any concert formed during the festival of Thaipusam and em- concluding part of the presentation was a benediction the USA. “If you are looking for a fund rising program with lyrics worshipping Lord Ganesha followed. phasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a bur- song praising noble qualities and attractive personal- for your temple or a non–profit organization, please “Temple Bells” was next in line with dance set to den through which devotees implore for help from ity of Lord Rama. contact us and will be happy to assist your with your carnatic classical Veena music by Shri Chitti Babu. God Murugan. Bharatantyam Jathis were per- Packed with a house full of audience, the elabo- program,” says the release. A pure nritta number, “Alarippu” came dancing in formed for Fusion music by Vanessa Mae and rate dance recital raised well over eight thousand The commemorative sheets from Usa- where is no abhinaya involved and is performed to A.R.