Kannada Sangha is pleased to reproduce an article written by Sri. S Rammurthy, one of the persons active in the formation of Kannada Sangha in 1973. This artilce writen 2 decades ago traces the path of Kannada Sangha since its birth, its achievements, memorable moments and the challenges it faced. As this is a scanned document, it has not been checked for typographical or grammatical errors, if any. Kannada Sangha thanks Mr. Rammurthy for sharing the article with the Kannada community.

Kannada Sangha is also looking for stories and experiences from our Senior Members and request them to share their great unforgettable moments in Kannada Sangha. This is your Sangha....you built it, you nurtured it, you and your children have grown with it. Please spare a few minutes for this great organization which brings all kannadaigas together and let the community know your memorable moment. The new generation and the new members in the last two decades would love to learn about more about this organization. Please send your write-up to kstoronto@gmail.com and share your experiences with your community.

Kannada Sangha of Toronto, Canada. A great organization. A great place for Kannadigas to meet, greet, share, promote and preserve our Kannada culture, customs and tradition.

Kannada Sangha was official born in the year 1973. A few like minded people who had a great passion for Kannada and Karnataka mooted the idea on July 8, 1973 at a small gathering during the Ganesha Puja and thus Kannada Sangha was born.

In the mid sixties, Kannada families used to celebrate the religious functions such as Ugadi and Sankranthi in their homes and visit their friends. Four such families that were meeting regularly were : Mrs Rajalakshmi and Dr. B. Ramaswamy, Mrs. Uma and Dr. S. Satyanarayana, Mrs. Ramaa and Dr. S Nagaraja Rao and Mrs. Vasantha and Mr. S. Raghavendra Rao. In early 1968 they decided to organize a community celebration of Ugadi to which other Kannada families were invited.

The first community celebration of Ugadi by the Kannadigas of Toronto was held on Sunday the March 30, 1968 at the basement of St. Luke's United Church at the South-east corner of Sherbourne Street and Carlton Streer (next to Allan Gardens) in Toronto. The function was attended by over 30 people.

This was followed by a Picnic in a Provincial Park in the summer of 1968. And it became a regular format for the next 5 years. Kannadigas were looking forward for the Ugadi and Picnic every year. More families in addition to the original four families that got actively involved in the functions were Mrs. and Prof. K Iswaran, Mrs and Mr. G. Baichwal, Mrs. and Dr. H S Radhakrishna, Mrs. and Dr. J Islur, and Mrs and Mr. K Venkataraman.

Picnics and Ugadi celebrations continued every year from 1968 to 1972. However there was a growing feeling among the kannadigas that a formal association with a constitution and elected committee should be formed to give a group an institutional framework. Other Indian regional and linguistic groups were forming their own associations as the Indian population in Toronto increased in number. As such a general meeting was called to discuss the formation of an association of Kannada speaking people at 30 Charles Street West, Toronto. At the meeting it was decided to form the Kannada Sangha and the constitution was drafted in the Spring of 1973.

Kannadigas were invited for the first General Body Meeting and Picnic as Edwards Garden Toronto on July 22, 1973. It was a historic occasion at which the torch was possed from the informal Kannada Group to the formal Kannada Sangha. It was an enthusiastic and excited group of nearly 40 people that attended the first General Body meeting and the constitution of Kannada Sangha was approved. Some of the people active in the formation of Kannada Sangha were : Mrs. Rajalakshmi and Dr. B. Ramaswamy, Dr. Shankara Sastry, Mr. S N Somasundar, Mrs. Sharada and Mr. S Nagaraja Rao, Mr. S Rama Murthy and Mrs. Ramaa and Mr. Sundaresan.

The first function organized by Kannada Sangha was Ganesha Puja in September 1973 at the meeting hall of 30 Charles Street West, attended by over 100 people.

Today the seeds sown by those passionate kannadigas as above has grown into a great organization with over 220 families as permenant members. The functions are attended by over 500 to 600 people and the participation by the kannadigas in every function is indeed overwhelming. Among the founders, Mrs. Rajalakshmi and Dr. Ramaswamy, Mrs. Sharada and Mr. Nagaraja Rao and Mr. S. Rama Murthy are still very active members, while the others have either migrated to the U.S or moved back to our homeland.

(Source: Article by Dr. B Ramaswamy in the Silver Jubilee Souvenir May 1998)

Following are some key Kannada Sangha events by year:

• 1987 - Organized a Canada-U.S. Kannada conference in Toronto . About 500 people from Canada , U.S. and India participated.
• 1988 - organized a series of leadership training sessions for youth.
• 1989 - organized a conference for youth of South Asian origin.
• 1990 - initiated a volunteer service program to help new immigrants and other members in need. Has been very successfull in providing information, settlement facilities for new immigrants and establishment of social networks.
• 1991 - organized an open discussion forum for youth to express their needs and the problems they face. Organized Seminars on Financial Planning.
• In 1991/92 one of our youth was recognized as "Junior Citizen Of Ontario " for her community activities and leadership. A number of our members have been nominated for volunteer service awards by the Ministry of Citizenship.
•   1993 - Organized a successful Bharatanatyam program by the well known artist from our own community, Lata Pada. Organized numerous cultural programs by local and visiting artists.
• 1995 - Organized a summer school on Bharatanatyam by a visiting Guru from India , staged a very successful show Purandara Vandana by local and visiting artists.
    Hosted reception to new Canadian Citizens at the Citizenship court. Cooperated with other community organizations to put up multicultural events.
    Kannada Network of Toronto was put in to high gear to provide information assistance to large number of new immigrants.
• 1998 Celebrated KS Silver Jubilee in a 2 day filled with grand functions. Invited musicians Raju & Sunitah Ananthaswamy
• 2004 Special Bharatanatyam program “Sculptures comes alive based on the poem Anthapura Geethe by DVG on Belur & Halebid