Spearheading Telugu Kala Samithi in Kuwait

Culture resides in the hearts and souls of people belonging to a particular region uniting them in lands far away from home and helping them keep their roots intact. “The Telugu Kala Samithi in Kuwait is an organization which binds together Telugu speaking residents of the country through cultural interactions and welfare programmes that support members and ensure that children growing up there do not lose touch with the rich legacy of art, music, dance and drama” says Jyotsna Kishore, the first woman President since the organisation was formed almost three decades ago. 

Not only is she the only woman to spearhead the 1000-member organisation but one who holds the distinction of serving it for the second time in this capacity. Hailing from Eluru in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh Jyotsna Kishore, a home maker moved to Kuwait in 1997 and became a member of the Samithi that had been formed in 1988.

 Kuwait which has about 40,000 Telugu speaking families saw an influx of professionals to the country between the 1950’s and 60’s when doctors, engineers, and those working in oil refineries took up lucrative jobs there. 

Many maids and nurses also hail from Andhra and Telangana as there is a huge demand and they earn significantly large amounts of money.  Indians living in Kuwait became close knit after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, but people from different Indian states mostly from South India have their own associations.  Different Indian language associations usually get together for celebrating festivals like Diwali or National events says Jyotsna. 

The Telugu Kala Samithi conducts five or six cultural events and one mega event annually inviting folk artistes, film stars, classical and film musicians and dancers. It holds annual drama competitions in a chosen location in the Telugu states and award winning troupes are invited to stage their plays in Kuwait according to Jyothsna. Most of the events staged by the Samithi are well attended with the concert conducted by Mani Sarma last year attracting an audience of almost 2,500 members.

The cultural activities conducted by the Samithi are supported by Indian firms and real estate companies that also have business interests in Kuwait. “Celebrating Telugu festivals and conducting “Vanabhojanams’ (picnics in the lap of nature) which are a Telugu tradition in the “Karthika Maasam” are part of the Samithi’s cultural calendar every year. Apart from forming a support system and extending help to members of the local Telugu community, the “Telugu Kala Samithi’ has been sending funds back home whenever there are natural disasters and help is needed . 

“When Vishakhapatnam faced the brunt of the Hudhud all our members made voluntary contributions which we pooled together and sent back home’ says Jysotsna, highlighting the fact that welfare is also an important part of their initiative.  Although there are many women who are members not many of them show the initiative to become committee members she adds hoping that there will be more following her footsteps in the years to come.