Washington – One of the important objectives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States is to galvanise the large Indian American community towards contributing to India’s development.
His office and the BJP are making a massive outreach effort to the nearly 3 million-strong Indian diaspora through community organisations, and the Indian Embassy and its five consulates in New York, Houston, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta.
Indian Americans, especially the large Gujarati community, are responding with enthusiasm. Modi is seen by his generation of Indian Americans as one of their own, and they are eager to welcome him. Conversations with Indian Americans reflect an eagerness to wipe out the “insult” of the visa denial by the U.S. government with a big welcome.
Partly to showcase the community and its massive gains in American society, President Obama on Thursday nominated Richard Rahul Verma as the new U.S. ambassador to India – the first Indian American named for the high-profile and important job. Verma, a policy expert and a decorated Air Force officer, will attend the India-U.S. official talks during Modi’s visit.
Modi arrives in New York on September 26 on a five-day visit, which includes an address to the UN General Assembly and an appearance at The Global Citizen Festival in Central Park along with a dozen world leaders to press for progress in the areas of hunger, sanitation and vaccines for the world’s poor.
He will then proceed to Washington for a two-day “working visit” and official talks. Obama will host a private dinner prior to the bilateral meetings, and Modi will visit the U.S. House of Representatives to meet the leadership of key committees.
The signature moment of Modi’s passage will be his address to a sold-out rally of 20,000 at Madison Square Garden. More than 600 Indian American organisations have registered to get tickets, which are being distributed through a lottery system because of the high demand.
Organisers promise an exciting show complete with holograms and laser lights, entertainment and Miss America Nina Davuluri, an Indian American who will compere the programme. The aim of this high-octane effort is tap into the Indian diaspora, exhort it to invest in India and “give back” to the mother country. And, why not given that Indian Americans are well placed to contribute in both skills and finances.
Often referred to as the “model minority” in the U.S., Indian Americans are better educated, earn higher incomes, own homes and have more stable families. According to a 2012 Pew Research Center study, they have the highest median household income of $88,000 – far above the national household average of $49,800. They are also the best educated – 70% of those above 25 years have at least a bachelor’s degree – higher than the Asian American (including Chinese, Vietnamese, Pakistanis, and other Asian ethnic groups) average of 49%, and the national average of 28%.
The first wave of Indian immigrants who came in the 1960s and 70s – most of them a professional class of scientists, doctors, professors and researchers – has retired or is retiring. They have time and money on their hands.
The Pew study mentioned an interesting facet: fewer Indian Americans have become U.S. citizens at 56%, compared to 70% of all Asian Americans. It shows that although they have lived in the U.S. for decades, the mother country still exerts a tug at the heart. Mobilising this group of Indian Americans should be easier than the second generation which has more of a professional interest in India, rather than emotional.
However, the “how to” will prove to be a monumental task. What should be the vehicle, post-Modi’s visit, to continue the outreach – to establish mechanisms through which Indian Americans can engage meaningfully with India?
The Indian Embassy simply does not have the capacity to do this alone. Its community affairs and economic wings have one officer each who are burdened with routine tasks. The Ministry of Overseas Affairs could and should rise to the task and go beyond its annual task of organising the Bharatiya Pravasi Diwas.
To establish real connections, the Modi government will have to make a special effort to excite the Silicon Valley Indians – Indian Americans are co-founders of nearly 33% of all Silicon Valley start-ups. The community also accounts for about 7% of all physicians.
In addition, it will have to work hard to create broad-based support in the community, parts of which are not automatic supporters of the BJP despite the new energy Modi brings to the idea of India.
Sikh Americans have drifted away over the years from mainstream Indian Americans for many reasons – ranging from neglect to mischief by pro-Khalistani elements. Their concerns, especially in the post-9/11 America about personal security, did not register with Indian community leaders.
Similarly, Indian American Muslims find little in common with Hindu-dominated community organisations. They find more solace among the dedicated Indian secularists and leftists.
Even for Modi’s rally, the organisations seeking tickets are of a certain kind despite express instructions from the PMO to make the event truly representative. But if you have never been in touch socially, it is difficult to cast a wider net and get a response.
The fact is that Indian Americans, especially the first generation, live in mini silos, interacting with their own little social groups. Any attempt to forge a national organisation or a lobbying group inevitably ends in a clash of egos and attention grabbing.
The last time the Indian American community came together as a force for good for India was during the negotiations for the India-U.S. civil nuclear agreement in 2008. But that happened because of the sterling work put in by a few dedicated Indian diplomats who met community leaders in different states and rallied them to talk to their senators and Congressmen.
It was a good opportunity to create a national network with a proper database of members and organisations, but community leaders returned to their normal routine.
Ironically, almost every Indian American envies and wants to emulate the American Jewish community and its grassroots work. But to create something like The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a forceful lobby group that influences the U.S. Congress and the White House to adopt pro-Israel policies, Indian community leaders have to eschew personal egos, finance a national network and employ professionals.
If such an organisation existed, Modi’s work would have been easier.
Seema Sirohi is a Washington-based analyst and a frequent contributor to Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. Seema is also on Twitter, and her handle is @seemasirohi
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