Indian Jones in America

The author, an immigrant herself, has talked about the success stories of the high-profile Indian diaspora across various fields

- By PARUL CHANDRA

The great American dream for many among the Indian diaspora based in the US appears to be going up in smoke with the newly minted Trump administration issuing an executive order revoking birthright citizenship. This route had allowed many Indian nationals to acquire US citizenship for their progeny even though they themselves did not hold a US passport. The appointment of several Indian Americans to key posts in Trump's second administration, therefore, can only be seen as an irony of sorts given that his politics has thrived on anti-immigration rhetoric and policies.

Weeks before his swearing-in, the naming of Sriram Krishnan by Trump as his senior policy adviser for AI (Artificial Intelligence) had riled many among Trump's MAGA (Make America Great Again) support base. It launched a tirade against Indian Americans, warning that such appointments are against Trump's mantra of 'America First'. Amid this, the recently released book Indian Genius: The Meteoric Rise of Indians in America by Meenakshi Ahamed assumes greater resonance. Herself an immigrant, Ahamed has profiled some of the hugely successful members of the Indian diaspora-be it in the field of technology, medicine, politics, or journalism.