The DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) Metroplex in Texas is affectionately known by many names among the Desi Indian and other South Asian communities. Some call it Mini India or Mini Hyderabad, and others refer to it as 'DallasPuram.'
In recent years, while various racial and ethnic groups have been moving to the DFW area at a rapid pace, the community of Telugu speakers from Andhra Pradesh has taken the lead.
Other regions in the U.S., such as the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Chicago, and New Jersey, also have significant Telugu populations. However, Dallas has earned a reputation as 'Little Hyderabad.'
The attraction to Texas, and specifically to Dallas, is multifaceted: the absence of state taxes, historically low property prices, a substantial Desi community, and a climate reminiscent of India have all played a part. The recent influx of tech companies, the availability of remote working positions, and the movement of friends and family to the area have only strengthened this trend.
Nagaraju says "I moved to 'Dallaspuram' because San Francisco was too expensive. In Dallas, there's no state tax, rents are lower, traffic is more manageable than in San Francisco, and the strong Desi community provides a great social environment. If parents or in-laws visit, they'll find plenty of friends for socializing, making it feel just like Hyderabad."
So, where did the majority of the Telugus move within the DFW area? They settled in places with significant friends and family presence from Andhra Pradesh, notably in Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Celina, and Prosper.
Celina ISD Annocement In Telugu:
Recently, Celina ISD shocked the Desi Indian community by announcing that enrollment instructions are now also available in Telugu, following English and Spanish; details below:
Celina ISD serves students residing within the District's attendance zones in the cities of Celina, Weston, and McKinney. A child must live within Celina ISD boundaries to attend CISD schools.
Prekindergarten enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is now open, and the ISD has posted instructions on its website in three languages: English, Spanish, and the newly added Telugu, which surprised many people.
Community Reaction:
Asia91 reached out to numerous individuals, and some forums are circulating this news, revealing divided opinions about this development.
While many express pride that the Telugu language has been recognized in the enrollment process, others commend the move. Here are some standout comments:
- Anonymous User 1: "Hindi and English are languages; Telugu is an emotion."
- Anonymous User 2: "It's not a big deal; this is just for enrolling in the Pre-K program, which primarily offers English as a Second Language (ESL) options. However, I'm still surprised that the ISD has designed specific images and banners for the Telugu language on their website."
- Anonymous User 3: "The USA stands for the United States of America, not United States of Andhra. The national language of Texas is English, not Telugu."
- Anonymous User 4: "Frisco, Celina, and Prosper have a very proud Indian community crowd that, instead of respecting the host country, tries to create all kinds of..."
The Real Reason to Add the Telugu Language:
The primary reason for including the Telugu language is the significant percentage of students who speak Telugu. Below are key details:
- Substantial Growth: The number of bilingual students in Celina ISD has increased by 208% since the 2020-21 school year.
- Diverse Linguistic Landscape: Initially supporting six languages, the District now includes 34 languages as of the 2022-23 school year, such as Mandarin, Hindi, Korean, and French.
- Language Distribution (2022-23):
- 42.4% of the 548 emergent bilingual students spoke Spanish.
- 26.4% spoke the Indian regional language Telugu.
- 31.2% communicated in other languages.
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