Who We Are

About Vokkaligara Parishat of America

A registered non-profit preserving the heritage of the Vokkaliga farming community across the United States since 1991. Incorporated in the State of Illinois.

VPA brings together Vokkaligas across America to preserve heritage, build community, support future generations and create meaningful connections. — VPA CONSTITUTION · ARTICLE II
1991
Founded
Illinois, USA
35+
Years Active
Non-profit
4
Regions
Nationwide
18
Conventions
2025: San Jose
50
States+D.C.
Full coverage
President's Message → Current Office Bearers → Past Office Bearers → Founders & Past Presidents →
Connect with Current Committee
President's Message
Dr. Amarnath Laxminarayan, National President of VPA

"It is my honor and privilege to serve as the National President of Vokkaligara Parishat of America. Together, let us carry our farming legacy forward for generations to come."

Dr. Amarnath Laxminarayan
National President · VPA · Texas
Read the full message →
History & Heritage

The Vokkaliga Legacy

The Vokkaliga people — Gowdas, Reddys, Bunts, Gounders, and related communities — are the proud agricultural community of Karnataka, India. Their history spans the Ganga, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara Empires, including the founding of Bengaluru by Kempe Gowda I in 1537.

VPA was incorporated in the State of Illinois in 1991. The national headquarters is located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. By Constitution, conventions rotate in order: East → Midwest → West → South.

Founded:1991, Illinois, USA
Tax ID:31-1529941
HQ:61 N. Squirrel Road, Auburn Hills, MI
AmeriCorps:Certified December 6, 2024
Magazine:Vishwamanava — published each convention
Our Mission

Five Pillars of Our Work

Everything VPA does — since 1991 — rests on five commitments drawn from Article II of our Constitution.

Community
Connecting Vokkaliga families coast to coast across four regions, helping newly arrived families find a network in America, and working alongside Kannada Kootas and Indian cultural organizations.
Cultural Heritage
Festivals, Kannada language, classical arts, and Vokkaliga traditions carried forward — and recorded each convention in the Vishwamanava magazine.
Education
Scholarships, youth conferences, and mentorship, plus exchange programs for Vokkaliga students, scientists, and professionals.
Social & Economic Development
Professional networks that open doors, and distinguished Vokkaliga scholars, artists, and statesmen invited to the USA to share their work.
Charitable Activities
Fundraising for humanitarian, cultural, and educational causes in America and in Karnataka, India — recognised as an AmeriCorps National Certifying Organization.
Read the objectives in full · VPA Constitution →