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ನೃಪತುಂಗ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕೂಟ
Nrupathunga Kannada Koota
Kannada Community of Greater Atlanta Area, A non-profit organization under IRS 501 c(3)
NKK Trustees
Dr. Subra Bhat
Dr. Bhat is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical care Medicine and Integrative Pain Management. He is an active Rotarian and serves as board member at Clayton state university, Hindu temple of Atlanta and Good shepherd clinic. He served as chairman of Atlanta Kannada Koota and Current Trustee. He has established multiple student scholarships locally and in India. Mobilized and donated funds for multiple natural disaster.
Dr. Bhat has won multiple community service awards, top physician award, Patients choice award and Covid community award (2021)
Dr. Bhat is married to Dr. Annapurna Bhat who is a Rheumatologist and their son Kiran is a writer and world traveler.
Dr. Anu Bhat
Dr Anu Bhat is Physician who did her super specialty Rheumatology at Emory University in Atlanta who was awarded Top Georgia Rheumatologist in 2018. She is married to Dr Subrahmanya Bhat Pulmonologist, who served as Chairman NKK 2019, they have one son Kiran Bhat who is pursuing literary career.
Both of them are involved in various charity organizations sponsoring multiple cultural and charitable activities in GA, FL and India. Some examples of Organizations that they have contributed in Atlanta include Heaven house, A Friends house Inc, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Clayton state University, Kennesaw state University, The Raksha Foundation. Ekal Vidyalaya, Habitat for humanity
She is board member of numerous organizations through which she serves local communities.
Anu is also interested in encouraging music and dance activities and has promoted numerous cultural activities including hosting Yakshagana musical troupe. .She has hosted several famous entertainers including singers, violinists, Sitar players, authors for various organizations.
NKK BOD/ EC Team for 2023
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Santosh Krishnamurthy
Chairman
"After moving down south from Pittsburgh, PA in 2016, I had the opportunity to get associated with NKK. From the previous experiences I had with Kannada Kootas, I took over as the president in 2017 and continued for 2018 term as well. During my leadership, had the privilege to host NKK’s 45th Year Anniversary celebrations. I live in Alpharetta along with my wife Sowmya, kids Sinchana and Samarth. Looking forward to make NKK a better platform for Kannadigas of Greater Atlanta Area!"
Jayanth Palakshiah
Vice Chairman
"I have been an active NKK member since 2005. During AKKA 2012, I was the Chair person for Cultural programs and got accolades for executing the backstage activities. Over the years, have been popular among NKK community for stage performances and as program director for various events. As the new BOD for 2019, I would like to support in reaching out to people and build a strong team for common cause."
Mangala Udupa
Director
Mangala Udupa aka Mangala Gopalakrishna is a Solution Architect by profession, but a passionate kannadiga at heart. She has been an IT professional and has experience of 20+ years She moved to Atlanta in 2005 and has made it home. She lives with her very supportive family, husband Madhusudhan and son Vishruth. She is proud to be part of NKK from past 16 years and has been an active member. She is a voracious reader and her hobbies include writing and experimenting with new recipes. Her articles have been published in newspapers of Karnataka and online magazines. She volunteers to teach kannada to kids during the weekend as part of the kannada kali program. She also has written and directed plays and performed in NKK and other events.
"I have been active in Atlanta Kannada community in various ways from last 17 years. Now I am very excited to be part of NKK team and serve in every possible way."
Diwakar Dyamanna
Director
Diwakar is a member of NKK for over 3 years, living in Marietta with his wife Madhu, daughter Sheona and son Srihan. His kids go to “Marietta Kannada shale” to learn Kannada over weekends and his wife actively takes part in anchoring the NKK events.
"I am interested in acting in Kannada dramas and long drives. I am excited to be part of executive committee & looking forward to serve our Kannada community."
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Sudeep Hebbar
Director
Sudeep Hebbar along with wife Chaya and sons Sumith and Sanchit called Atlanta home since 2008 and are currently settled in Cumming. Sudeep is originally from Udupi district and Chaya is from North Canara. They have participated and volunteered in NKK ever since then.
Sudeep is a Software Architect by profession and is an outdoor and music enthusiast. Looking forward to serving Atlanta area Kanndigas thru NKK.
Coming soon.
Gonchikar Raya
Director
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Vanishree Rao
Director
Vanishree Rao, known to many as Vani, has been a NKK member since 1998. As a proud kannadiga, she started her involvement in kannada koota by hosting a kannada books library, then moved on to directing various dance and drama events at annual kannada koota events, She is passionate about the kannada language and takes pride in teaching kannada to kids every Saturday since 2009. She has also hosted various small-scale fundraising events to support the kannada shale.
She served as Literary committee chairperson at the AKKA 2012 event. She was instrumental in hosting many famous authors including Sri Chandrashekhara Kambara, T N SeethaRam and many others.
Vani has worked as a software professional for the past 25 years and lives in Marietta with her husband Balaji and her kids, Veda and Amit. She loves to run and hike, do small home-improvement projects and she is enthusiastic to work on websites and videos for fun.
“I am excited to be part of NKK team and look forward to continuing to serve the kannada community in Atlanta”
Bharatish Shirhatti
Director
Bharatish Shirahatti, wife Parimala, daughters Ankshata and Ankita have been residents of Metro Atlanta since 1994. Bharatish and his family have actively volunteered for NKK for more than 25 years. Bharatish previously served NKK as BOD for 6 Years (2012-2018) and as Vice Chairman for 2 years (2017-2018). Besides volunteering in the NKK activities, his current interests include improving NKK bylaws, policies and processes.
Srinivas Prasad
President
"Having been a long time volunteer of NKK, I was an active member on the organizing committees of the successful Atlanta AKKA conference in 2012. Association with NKK and being part of the Executive Committee, gives me the opportunity to serve my community along with helping me stay strongly bonded to my roots (nadu-nudi-samskruthi).
My wife Anu and I have 2 blessings in Aayush and Arjun. I passionately engage in yoga, spirituality, music and movies as my pastime."
Vasanth Halemani
Treasurer
I have been in the USA for more than 10year, I was a member of other Kannada groups in other states before moving to Atlanta, and been with NKK for a few years. Living in Marietta with his wife Nayana, daughter Anvi and son Anish. My kids go to “Marietta Kannada shale” to learn Kannada over weekends. "I am a CIVIL/structural engineer, interested in outdoor activity and messing with automobiles, electronics, computers. I am excited to be part of the executive committee & looking forward to serving our Kannada community."
Bhagyashree Rao -
Secretary
Bhagyashree Rao, originally from Dharwad, calls Cumming GA home for the past 17 years with husband Deepak and two handsome sons Arnav and Dhruv. Our family has been NKK members ever since we moved to Georgia. Over the years, she has been involved in NKK through participating in cultural programs and participating in AKKA Kannada conference committees. I look forward to be an advocate for Kannada causes and giving back to community along with other Board members
Anushri Jivaragi
Jt Secretary
Anushree Jivaragi - Software Professional currently in Atlanta.
Born in Bijapur, grew up in Delhi for 16 years, she has a blended perspective of north and south Indian culture.
She came to US in 2011, stayed in several states before moving to Cumming, Georgia in 2018.
Anushree and her husband Pavan V Kulkarni are proud parents of 2 kids Atharval ( 10 years) and Medha ( 5 years). We love everthing the city has to offer interms of Indian culture, restaurant, and good weather.
As a proud Kannadiga, She volunteers and take pride in teaching Kannada to kids on sunday. She has actively attended and participated in the NKK events since 2019. She is excited to be part of NKK commitee and look forward to serve and give back to kannada community.
Her Favorite past times are - watch movies, exploring new restaurants and travelling to new places. She loves trying out different cuisines and discovering new flavors.
Jagan is a member of NKK for over 6 years, living in Marietta with his wife Vani and two lovely daughters Sakshi and Sejal.
"I passionately engage in tennis, trekking and movies as my pastime. As a member of executive committee, I eagerly looking forward to serve our community and make NKK a better platform for kannadigas"
Jagannath Joshi
VP - Operations
Shubha Shiva along with her husband Rohith and son Siddhanth have been in Atlanta since 2014 and are currently settled in Cumming.
Shubha is originally from Hosanagara, Shimoga district and Rohith is from Bengaluru. Shubha is a Engineer by profession and loves singing, reading books, listening to old Kannada songs and watching Kannada movie. Looking forward to serving Atlanta area Kanndigas thru NKK.
Shubha Shiva
Jt. Treasurer
Sreedhar Venkat is living in Alpharetta since 2015 with wife Thanuja Ramachandra. Before moving to Atlanta, lived in Boston and looking forward to serving kannadigas through NKK.
Sreedhar Venkat -
VP - Public Relations
Chetan Hegde with his wife Kavita and their son Nachiket have been Atlanta Resident and NKK member for more than 15 years. Chetan is originally from Sirsi, brought up in Bangalore; Kavita is from Siri-Yellapur area. We are currently settled in JohnsCreek. We both work in the IT industry. It is our pleasure to help the Kannada community through NKK and upholding our cultural virtues. Looking for great things to do.