Yesterday I attended the historic gathering of nearly 20,000 Indian Americans in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, where visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the accomplishments of the Indian American community and laid out his vision for India’s future.
More than 30 Members of the U.S. Congress attended the speech, demonstrating the growing political clout of the nearly 3-million-strong Indian American community, which makes up about 1 percent of the total U.S. population and represents the second-largest Asian American grouping in the U.S.
Modi kicked off his speech by noting that while India was once thought of as the land of snake charmers, it is now known as the land of the mouse (the computer kind). He went on to highlight India’s achievements, listing its three biggest assets as democracy, a demographic dividend (65 percent of Indians are under the age 35), and demand (the market kind). He said India’s youthful population could help fill job requirements for skilled labor throughout the world, as many societies age and lose their technical edge.
Modi called on Indian Americans to help develop their country of origin. When he asked whether they would help him attract foreign investors and tourists, embark on a sanitation campaign, and clean up the Ganges River, the enthusiastic crowd shouted back in the affirmative.
Modi brought the stadium’s packed crowd to its feet when he spoke of his humble beginnings as the son of a tea seller. Seeking to project an image of both confidence and humility, the Indian prime minister commented that he would “do big things for small people.”
In addition to the Madison Square Garden event, Modi spelled out his foreign policy agenda in a speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday and met Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman in Central Park at the Global Citizen Festival, where he emphasized the power of youth with their “idealism, innovation, and energy” to combat poverty.
By the time Modi meets President Barack Obama for a private dinner this evening, he will have already demonstrated that he has strong support from the Indian American community. This will strengthen India–U.S. ties moving forward.
People-to-people interactions are a foundational part of the Indo–U.S. relationship, and the Indian American community has an important role to play in bridging gaps in understanding between the two countries, as well as in enhancing business and trade connections.
By energizing the Indian American community to become more involved in supporting India and its development, Modi is contributing to improved relations between India and the U.S.
