At my age 93+ I keep thinking and dreaming about India and the Indian Americans.  Though born in India and lived there only 24 years I love India and the Indian Americans.  I am getting intoxicated sometimes hearing the extraordinary success of Indian Americans in all fields.   I studied Business at Columbia and I have been following the outstanding leadership of Indian Americans in leading Business schools and major corporations (including two trillion dollars).    I have been shocked at Harvard selecting an Indian as its Dean, who served for more than a decade.  Harvard has selected another Indian to succeed him.  This guy received all his education in India!

HBS is the No.1 leading Business school in the world.  It manufactures CEO’s.    Does this not show that Indian Americans are geniuses in Business.  Though Indian business success is nowhere near America’s, Indians are excelling.    India and the Indian Americans have not honored these outstanding Deans of the world.  These Deans are highly influential.  The main responsibility of the Harvard Dean is to raise funds and select the topnotch faculty and create the most successful environment for students at HBS.

POLITICS

In politics for a tiny population, we have made our mark.  We elected two Governors, one Vice President, ten to Congress,   Many Indian Americans have been appointed as Judges at all levels including Appellate courts.  Some have been identified for the Supreme Court.

So far, three Indian Americans have competed for the President of the USA.  Two governors – Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal  and a businessman, Ramaswamy.  Whether they win or not, they are competing with a small number of Presidential aspirants.  Indian Americans stand out.

TECHNOLOGY

We are leaders.    America has graduated thousands of Indian Americans in Electrical Engineering and other Engineering disciplines

I can state that without the input of Indian American engineers. the U.S. could not have made this much progress.  Americans have become poor in mathematics and science because of failed public schools run by the unions.  How many can qualify for admission to Bronx School of Science or Stuyvesant High School?  Indians dominate in these schools.

We have achieved with  a very tiny population of 4 million Indian Americans, slightly above 1% of the US population.   Hoping this trend continues, what will be the impact of Indian Americans 10, 20, 50 or 100 years?     All the three Presidential candidates were born and buttered in the USA — second generation Indian Americans.

We have beaten all ethnic groups  in income year after year.   I came to the USA in 1954, almost 70 years ago when there were only 3000 Indians, all Foreign Students.  The phenomenal progress of the Indian Americans has shocked me pleasantly.  Will this trend continue?

If it does, the US will certainly elect an Indian American as President in the future and that will create a huge impact. The U.K., Ireland, Portugal, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Fiji Island, have been headed by Indian origin people.  I think No.2 in Canada is an Indian.    It is therefore possible the Indian American leaders could influence  International Relations and Foreign Policy.

India is the youngest country in the world.  I am getting the impression the young Indians are adventurous and want to live in various parts of the world.  There is a tremendous interest and urge to immigrate to the USA.  If and when the US chalks out a wise immigration policy it should attract millions of Indians to the USA in the future.    Who can predict the influence of Indian Americans in the future?

It is quite possible that the Indian Americans will pretty soon have as much influence as the tiny Jewish community has.

I think Indian Americans should start formulating policies and strategies to solve major problems of the USA:  Open Border; Immigration; Dealing with Minorities especially the Blacks and Latinos; Poor quality of Public Education; Foreign Policy taking into account the major blunders of the past: Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Breaking of Yugoslavia, Iran, neglecting South America, etc.

Ven Parameswaran

Former Diplomat

vpwaren@gmail.com