By Vipul Tamhane
During the 2020 US Presidential elections, candidate-running mate to Biden, and later his Vice President, Kamala Harris reflected the growing capacities of the Indian American community in American politics. The Indian diaspora’s America connect is a much bigger saga. Harris’s story is only a milestone in that journey, not a destination, with her running as Presidential Candidate in 2024.
In 2023, Georgia's Senator Rich McCormick of Atlanta praised his Indian American constituents for their law-abiding, tax-paying, and societal contributions. Despite making up 1% of American society, they contribute 6% of taxes and are among the top producers. They are not prone to issues like overdoses and depression, making them highly sought-after and productive citizens. There is a notable difference in the faiths, social levels, and language backgrounds of Indian-Americans. There is also a particular distinction between the parent generation that immigrated to the United States in the 1960s and those who were born in the US. The later generation maintains Indian values of hard labor and close family relationships, but they are also more self-assured, flexible, and connected with the community. They appreciate their parents' support and are aware of their challenges as well.
The Indian-American community, now over four million, is the most significant segment of India's global diaspora, with 32 million members spread globally out of India. The positive trajectory of India-US relations has been linked to the rise of Indians in the US in the past two decades, leading to more Indian students and H1B workers. The growing number of the Indian-origin community in the U.S. could incentivize US elected representatives to be sensitive to India's concerns.
One would often think, if Indians in the US were different from their counterparts in Canada, while Canada with its recent diplomatic state given the Indian diaspora is a mere tossed salad, America is truly a melting pot. Americans have applauded the success stories of Indian Americans in various fields, including business administration, corporate, science, medicine, academia, hotel industry, entertainment, civil society, and last but not the least, politics.
Kamala Harris walks on the path paved with such meritorious contributions to the nation. Born in Oakland, California in 1964, to father Donald Harris, an academic of Afro-Jamaican descent, and mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who emigrated to the US at the age of 19 to pursue her doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology; Harris and her sister were raised by their mother, as black girls. The family, however, remained deeply conscious of their Indian heritage.
Having a President who shares ancestry with South Asians in America shows that South Asian immigrants and their offspring have a clear place in America. A daughter of India can make it to the highest elected office in the United States, which shows that the sky is the limit for the Indian diaspora in the US. Indians in the US already enjoy the status as the highest-earning demographic. An Indian will elevate that status and make history for minorities and women more broadly.
However, Harris is not the only Indian-American whose name and image are plastered across the US presidential campaign. Over at the Republican camp, Trump's Vice President pick JD Vance's wife is Usha Vance who traces her roots to Andhra Pradesh's Vadluru. She was raised in San Diego, California and she met JD Vance at Yale Law School before getting married in 2014. In addition to Kamala Harris, there are few notable figures of Indian descent
in the US, who have significantly made their mark on American politics.
Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the favorites among the Republicans, who ran on their nomination in the 2024 election, was born in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Harvard University with a biology degree and Yale Law School with a law degree. Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences and co-founded Strive Asset Management. Nikki Haley, born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa to Indian immigrant parents from Punjab, has made significant strides in American politics. Her Indian heritage deeply influences her values and leadership style. As a prominent Republican figure and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Haley’s background underscores the importance of diversity in leadership. Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman in the US House of Representatives; Raja Krishnamoorthi, a strong advocate for education and national security; Ro Khanna, known for his work on technology policy; and Ami Bera, the longest-serving Indian-American in Congress, focusing on healthcare and foreign policy; these all have contributed to the American politics representing the Indian American diaspora.
Former US Representative who ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020, Tulsi Gabbard has publicly clarified multiple times that she is not of Indian origin, and her embracing of Hinduism has led to confusion about her ethnic background. Harris’s approach to policy formation is rooted in a clear-eyed assessment of the threats facing the country, both from foreign adversaries and from within. At the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Harris' message resonated strongly with Indian Americans and other minority communities who see her as their leader.
Kamala Harris is polling a few points ahead of Donald Trump and will surely get a surge following the DNC. Indian Americans are banding together and supporting her through various efforts and specialty collaborations. There are funds being raised through 'South Asians in Climate' after the DNC and ahead of the 'Harris for President Climate Group' official launch now that September has begun. South Asians are in so are the Climate voters, both voter groups that broadly support Kamala Harris for President.
In her acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination, Kamala Harris vowed to resist the influence of authoritarian leaders, who she implied have allegedly manipulated Donald Trump's foreign policy by appealing to his autocratic tendencies. In a bid to position herself against Republican frontrunner Trump, Harris is stressing her resolve on national security, portraying the billionaire as a riskier alternative. In her speech, Harris made it abundantly clear that her presidency would mark a definitive break from the Trump era, particularly in foreign policy. "I will not cozy up to tyrants and dictators", she declared.
Harris, a climate activist, stands in stark contrast to Trump, who prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires and deregulation of corporate polluters. Harris pledges to hold the oil and gas industry accountable, invest in a clean energy economy, and ensure climate action benefits are shared by all Americans, not just the wealthy elite. Her 2020 vice presidential plan was more aggressive than the landmark Inflation Reduction Act passed during Joe Biden's presidency. Harris is now positioning herself as the 'Climate President' for the US.
As a woman of Indian origin, she also represents members of American society that have been historically disenfranchised. She represents the ascendency of women and a future society that is more equitable and fair to all genders and races. The rise of Indian-Americans in US politics, exemplified by figures like Kamala Harris, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and others, highlights the growing influence of the Indian diaspora.
Their diverse backgrounds and contributions across various sectors underscore the importance of representation and the potential for continued progress in American society. As these leaders pave the way, they reflect the evolving narrative of Indian-Americans in shaping the future of the nation.
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(The writer is a counter-terrorism expert and a visiting faculty with Pune University (SPPU) at the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies. He is also the founder & editor-in-chief at Diplomacy Direct, a public interest think-tank.)
