Archive | May 2012
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Indian expatriates and US Foreign Relations
Much more than the factors discussed above, the erroneous perceptions about India— and sometimes no perception at all– within the US political class was instrumental in political activism of the Indian community. Even as the Indian Americans tried to influence the domestic politics in the US, they also contributed to the bilateral relations of India […]
Money in politics and Indians in USA: From fundraising to lobbying
The economic power of diaspora helped them begin their political participation. They started initially by holding fund-raising dinners at local, state and national levels. Soon, such functions were held for former President Bill Clinton and his deputy Al Gore. In 1992, ten delegates represented Indian Americans in the Democratic National Convention. In 1996, the community’s […]
The 2000s: Indian American and expatriate Politics in the post-9/11 world
Perhaps the most important events for Indian Americans realising the need to organize happened in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on World Trade Center. In the fury that followed, some Indians were targeted in hate crimes. Sikhs, who appeared for some people to be similar to the Arab hijackers behind the […]
Consolidating political action
Various Indian organizations realized over time that unity was essential for political bargaining in the USA. Some associations got involved in local politics. The main idea behind much of the organizing was to create goodwill about India and Indian community among US politicians at the local, state and federal levels. Some organizations were formed to […]
Hardened stances: Expatriates and Sub-nationalist movements
The affluence of some kinship-oriented Indian communities in the US, combined with a perceived sense of injustice to their community back home, led to formation of certain organizations along regional and sub-national identities, causing frictions within the Indian community. Sympathizers and supporters for the Khalistan movement among the Sikh community in the USA and Canada […]
Racial profiling and ‘dot busters’ : Indians get political in 1980s
In spite of differences along cultural lines and “ego problems” within these unions, a genuine need for unity and political organizing was felt among many community organizers. Some organizations began to take part in the local political processes. Starting with Mayoral elections, they graduated to Congressional polls and later, Presidential polls. A series of racially-motivated […]
One community, too many organisations?
The very fact that such organizations developed in the dozens was a major reason for disunity. There were over 100 organizations in Chicago area alone by the 1980s. Once, two different Indian Independence Day parades were organized by Indian American organizations in the same area. Proliferation of organizations based on sub-national identities may be impeding growth of […]
South Asian America 