NEW DELHI: Despite their success, Indian-origin politicians often face challenges in integrating broader political agendas with their community’s interests.
As Kamala Harris advances towards securing the Democratic nomination and J.D. Vance becomes Trump’s running mate, one thing is clear—regardless of who wins, the US administration will have a distinct Indian influence.
Harris, potentially the first woman, Black, and South Asian President of the United States, has ancestral roots in Thulasendrapuram, a village nestled amid paddy fields in Tamil Nadu, India. Vance’s wife, Usha, also traces her ancestry to Vadluru, a serene village nestled by a canal in Andhra Pradesh. Along with them Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, both with Indian ancestry have launched their bid for the White House in 2024. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera and Shri Thanedar, Harmeet Dhillon are all popular Indian-American names in the US politics.
Indian-Americans, constituting about 1% of the US population, now represent a similar proportion in the US Congress, a significant rise over the past decade. This mirrors a global trend where leaders of Indian descent have ascended to prominent positions in various countries’ governments. Interestingly, this change has been brought about in a decade. In 2013, Ami Bera was a solitary member representing Desis in the US House of Representatives. This development is being seen in light of several leaders of Indian heritage who have ascended to the highest echelon of public service globally.
In 2022, Rishi Sunak became Britain’s first Indian-origin Hindu Prime Minister, graciously conceding in 2024 to Sir Keir Starmer. The UK Parliament also saw a record 26 Indian-origin members elected. Meanwhile, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, of Tamil ancestry, became Singapore’s President in 2023, and Pritam Singh serves as Leader of the Opposition in Singapore. In Ireland, Leo Varadkar, and in Portugal, Antonia Costa, both of Indian origin, have served as Prime Ministers.
Canada boasts of influential figures like Anita Anand, Harjit Sajjan, and Kamal Khera, who hold ministerial positions in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government. Trudeau himself is fondly nicknamed “Justin Singh Trudeau” by the Indian community. According to the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List, over 200 leaders of Indian heritage hold high-ranking positions in 15 countries, including over 60 in Cabinet roles. With more than 32 million people of Indian origin (PIOs) globally, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Indians are the largest community population in the world.
The Indian diaspora, often viewed as a “model minority”, has excelled in wealth, education, and societal status in their adopted nations. Notably, Indian-Americans report the highest median household income in the US at $119,858, and several have reached top leadership positions in major corporations and government agencies. There are enough success stories like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Microsoft head Satya Nadella, or celebrities like Hasan Minaj, Mindy Kailing etc. Three per cent of leadership roles in specific governmental agencies like the National Science Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Environmental Protection Agency are held by the Indian diaspora. Advocacy groups such as Impact and the AAPI Victory Fund have facilitated the rise of Indians in US politics. Voters are familiar and accepting of an Indian American face. This was not the scenario when in 1957, Dalip Singh Saund became the first Indian-origin politician to get elected to the House of Representatives.
In 2016, when Bobby Jindal, then the Governor of Louisiana, became the first Indian-American to run for the post of US President, the change came in a big way. 2016 saw Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Ro Khanna of California and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, elected to the House of Representatives. Kamala Harris became the first Indian-American to be elected to the Senate in the same year. One of the core features that have helped Indians in shaping their political ascendency in other democracies is that they come from a “status quoist” democratic system.
The Indian diaspora is becoming decisive voting blocs in several places. It has grown particularly powerful in states such as Michigan, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, Florida and Nevada. In Canada, the Indian diaspora, especially of the Sikh ethnicity, remains prominent, and in many cases polarised. Similarly, the British Indian votes in the 2024 elections swung away from Conservatives to support Independents, Labour and Lib Dems. The Hindu community, now the third-largest religious group in England, is asserting its political voice more strongly than ever. In 2024, the first-ever “Hindu Manifesto” was released by a coalition of 29 leading Hindu organisations signalling a coordinated effort to advance community interests and demands, calling for recognition of anti-Hindu hate as a religious hate crime and equal representation, among other key issues.
Despite their success, Indian-origin politicians often face challenges in integrating broader political agendas with their community’s interests. Many, like Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal, downplay their heritage to broaden their appeal, while others, such as Harris, navigate complex international relations where their ancestral ties do not dictate policy. In 2019, as a Senator from California, she was critical of India revoking Article 370. However, once in office Harris was welcoming of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The US and India share common concerns over China, making India a strategic partner for the US in Asia.
Despite that Harris has been known to put soft pressure on the Indian administration on the issue of human rights, much to the irritation of policy makers and general public back home. Similarly, in the United Kingdom several Indian origin leaders have adopted stricter anti-immigrant stance. Many of Rishi Sunak’s policies such as the Free trade Agreement talks between India and UK were driven by UK national interests and not his Indian roots. The Biden administration has appointed around 130 Indian-Americans to key positions, reflecting the growing influence and integration of Indian-Americans in US politics. While these appointments are a source of pride and potentially facilitate stronger India-US relations, the primary allegiance of these officials is to the US.
While it is but natural to feel a sense of pride about the achievements and assertion of the Indian diaspora in myriad fields, it needs to be realised that their allegiance primarily lies with their respective countries, shaping policies driven by national interests rather than ethnic heritage.
Dr Shreya Upadhyay is Deputy Director, Kalinga Institute of the Indo-Pacific Studies.