Indian Americans have solidified their footprint in the United States, not only in terms of the social and economic fields, but also in government.
President Joseph Biden has appointed a staggering number of them to key positions in his administration so far. More than 130 Indian Americans are sprawled across almost all departments and agencies of the government in crucial roles.
Business Standard called this unprecedented move “the best representation from the community that makes up around one per cent of the American population.”
In an event to commemorate “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” – the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence – Eastereye reports that senior White House official Raj Punjabi made the announcement in front of more than 75 Indian American organizations in the U.S. Capitol.
Among those in attendance to celebrate the historic event are prominent organizations such as US India Relationship Council, Sewa International, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, GOPIO Silicon Valley, Sardar Patel Fund for Sanatan Sanskruti, and US India Friendship Council.
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During his presidential candidacy in 2020, Biden promised the Indian American public that he will bridge the gap and continue to build relations with their community. In the previous administrations, key positions were also held by Indian Americans: 80 during Trump’s four-year term, and 60 from Barack Obama’s eight-year presidency.
As reported by GlobeNewsInsider, Punjabi addressed the crowd, saying that this milestone is a major win for Indian Americans. “I am proud to be part of an administration that is committed to maintaining diversity while also forming a government with leaders who share the same mindset and reflect the spirit of America.”
Currently, there are more than 40 Indian Americans elected at various positions across the country. Among them are four members in the House of Representatives – Dr. Amy Bera, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamurthy and Pramila Jayapal.
Indian Americans are also ahead in the business sectors as there are over 20 of them in executive positions of major companies such as Google, Microsoft, Adobe, and FedEx, among others.
In a statement to BusinessStandard, founder of global organization Indiaspora, M.R. Rangaswami said that, “the Biden administration has now appointed or nominated the largest group to date and needless to say we are proud of our people and their accomplishments for the United States.”
The record number of appointments by the current administration is just the beginning, but it is already proving as a huge accomplishment for the Indian American community in the country.
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And they are becoming a major population in the media as well. Hollywood likes them as well. The question is what about East Asian Americans who have been here for almost 200 years?
There appears to be resentment in your comment, Nancy – which disappoints me, as I would have hoped for more of a sense of allyship and appreciation. I’m personally seeing LOTS of East Asian ams advancing in all these ways as well, from media to politics and business. No, it’s not perfect, and there’s a lot of work to be done, but can’t you just give us this one celebration? I’ve been celebrating pan-Asian identity for my whole adult life, and dealing with feelings of difference and exclusion, and sometimes inclusion, in various ethnic groups. The island of inclusion is a variable shoal. We are still creating Asian America, and we all have to have a little brain space for it, I think, as opposed to our exclusive ethnic advance. By “East Asian” you are most likely referring to Chinese American experiences, if I’m not mistaken. But how do more “rooted” Asian Ams deal with newer arrivals, and vice versa? Can we turn our attention not just to representation, but to real equity? How will e pluribus unum work out for Asian America, as well as America? I refer you to these two articles:
Eight Questions for Understanding and Healing Resentment | Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-pacific-heart/202208/eight-questions-understanding-and-healing-resentment
MOSF 17.10: Asian American Histories of the United States: “Come, meet us in our wounds.” https://eastwindezine.com/mosf-17-10-asian-american-histories-of-the-united-states-come-meet-us-in-our-wounds/
Moreover, South Asians have also experienced a lot of tragedy – post 9-11, etc. We could do more to ally with the causes of safety, empathy and non-violence, which benefit us all. Just today, there was another AsAm article – about the murder of a convenience store clerk. We are a diverse group too – but we can ally on the issues such as the ones named