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Indian Americans in India-Pakistan relations
The period from 1998 has been one of upheavals in the regional political situation in South Asia. The tit-for-tat nuclear tests were followed the Lahore peace initiative by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. But the Kargil incursion and the military coup that followed in Pakistan dashed the hopes of […]
India and USA: From estrangement to engagement
The relative eagerness of US legislators in promoting the cause of Indian Americans stems partly from the fact that India and US had converging economic, political and security interests by the first decade of 21st century. In recent years, American companies explored India as a great market for their products and services. They saw great […]
Indian Americans in India-USA Relations
In the years following the formation of the India Caucus, Indo-US relations entered the period now often referred to as time of “transformation” and “engagement” as opposed to the early period of “estrangement”. Indian Americans were actively involved in realising the potential of better ties between the world’s largest democracy and its oldest, converging their […]
US Congressmen defend India
The greatest contribution of the India Caucus was in activities other than pushing legislations. The members of the caucus were active in making remarks in the House floor to draw attention to issues of interest to India. They include events such as the military coup in Pakistan, the nuclear tests, cross-border terrorism and democracy. In […]
Legislative Activism of India Caucus
The activism of India Caucus included promoting pro-India legislation and defeating anti-India resolutions and amendments. This was most evident with the Burton Amendments, introduced by Dan Burton, who used to be a very vigorous critic of India. Burton’s almost annual ritual of introducing his amendment came during debate on the Foreign Aid Bill. The amendment […]
India Caucus: Mission and Growth
The India Caucus had the dual mission of being an advocate for the concerns and needs of the Indian-American community and to promote better Indo-US ties. The ‘Statement of Purpose’ of India Caucus said it would make its presence known by regular and frequent letters to members of Congress, sponsoring occasional lectures and events featuring experts on […]
Formation of the India Caucus in US Congress
In the complex foreign policy making system of the US, it is important to influence the legislature. With this aim, Indian community lobbied hard to create a caucus of American lawmakers who would argue the case for better relations with India. As a result, the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans was formed in […]
Indian Americans fight USA’s ‘Pakistan Tilt’
By around 1980s, both Indian and Pakistani Embassies in the US started actively hiring professional lobbyists to put pressure on foreign policy related issues. One such firm, Neil and Co. was instrumental in the early 1980s in restoring US aid to Pakistan, despite its nuclear programme. The perceived sense of such a ‘Pakistan-tilt’ of US […]
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 […]
Indian immigrants in USA and discriminatory land laws
The embracing of Indian religious life and culture and the thinning numbers of Indian migrants who actually got acculturated through marriage with non-Indian communities should be seen in the wake of a number of immigration regulations and discriminatory laws that were introduced in the US in early 20th century. With strong lobbies working against Asian […]
South Asian America 