Kudos to Indian American 'brain bank'

Signing of The US-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act was a momentous occasion for not only President George W. Bush, who has etched his name in the history as India's biggest friend but also for the 2.5 million Indian Americans whose representatives relentlessly lobbied for its passage for three years. Never before has the community got together on an issue and followed it so fervently demonstrating their patriotism for the country they hail from.They left the country but never left it behind. On this historic occasion they fulfilled not only their duties to their nation of origin but also proved that as responsible citizens contributing to the US economy and community they have indeed arrived.

In 2005 when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Bush mooted the idea of nuclear deal for the first time, it was rejected at the very first go. Since then the Indian community joined forces, worked their way with the Congressmen, convinced them about the merits of the deal and how important it was for India to get out of nuclear isolation and saw to it that despite the agreement being tabled amidst the worst economic scenario in the US it got through.They did all it took to reach this point devoting their time, energy and resources. Holding rallies and fundraisers, taking out ads in major national papers, writing articles in local press, giving donations to both the parties, meeting up with key Senators – leaving no stone unturned to be precise. Most Indian American professional and community associations and its office bearers pitched in this effort.The Association of Indians in America (AIA), Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE), National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA), the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), and Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the 9000 member business body of hoteliers which is recognized as one of the largest trade associations in the US.These Indians not only hold a clout in their communities but have now grown to influence decisions at political level too.

Swadesh Chatterjee, Hemant Patel, Sanjay Puri, Dr.Piyush Agrawal, Ashok Moga, Thomas Abraham, Jagat Motwani, Sant Chatwal, Kevin Kishor Kaul……lots of names (listed at random) come to mind, who represented the entire community in this process. This entire exercise has proved that if we decide to unite there can be no stopping. Hope this sets an example for our diaspora in other countries. Our people across the world who have assimilated in the culture of their adopted land without any friction and are contributing to its economies. Wish our brethren in our country back home too could unite and stand up when any issue of national interest came up be it Kashmir or Indian Mujahiddin.

PM Manmohan Singh summed it up very well at a reception addressing 400 prominent Indian Americans in New York on his last trip. "A people who now live on every continent of our planet. A people on whom the sun never sets!" Alluding to India's emergence as a major democratic power and an open economy he exhorted the Indian- American community to become "an active partner in this saga of adventure and enterprise, and build an India free from the fear of want and exploitation".And given the patriotism exhibited by the community here, it won't be long before his vision is achieved.

- Editor