The spectacular rise of Indian Americans

Their growing influence is key to deepening ties with America

- AJAY CHHIBBER

At an India conference at Stanford University, co-sponsored by the Tata Group in 2022, Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor, shared a surprising story about her time when George W Bush was running for President in 2000. After she and her team had briefed the then-presidential candidate on important countries, but with nothing on India, he turned to her and said, "What About India?" He noted that he met very smart Indians - doctors, lawyers, engineers - in his constituency in Texas. He suggested she go back and take another look at India. This interest in India, sparked by Indian Americans impressing Mr Bush, eventually led to the nuclear deal between him and then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, where Indian Americans lobbied their senators and congresspeople to help finalize the agreement. US-India relations have moved onwards and upwards ever since.

In 1970, there were 0.5 million Indian Americans, a number that had risen to about 1.6 million by 2000, when Mr Bush became President. Today, there are over 5 million documented Indian Americans (1.4 per cent of the US population), a tenfold increase since 1970. They now form the largest group of overseas Indians. Not only have the numbers increased rapidly, their success has been spectacular. Indian Americans now have the highest median income of around $145,000 in 2022 - over 50 per cent higher than that of whites, and even higher than Jews and other Asians. They are also the most educated, with 82 per cent having college degrees. They make up almost 9 per cent of the doctors in the US, lead top IT companies as CEOs, and have recently made significant strides in politics. Kamala Harris rose to become a Senator, Vice President, and Democratic Presidential nominee.

Nikki Haley was governor of South Carolina, UN Ambassador and a Republican Presidential Contender. Usha Chilukuri Vance will be the Second Lady of the US in the next administration.