Chants of “Om Shanti Shanti Shanti” filled the halls on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, which began with Indian-American Hindu priest Rakesh Bhatt giving a unique Vedic sermon in which he begged for blessings for a unified nation and justice for everyone.
No, not in India, which is home to 94% of the world’s Hindu population, but rather in the United States of America, in the midst of a fierce and fiercely contested campaign for the November presidential election.
A scenario reminiscent of the recent UK elections, in which the triumphant Labour Party abandoned their earlier, somewhat ambiguous position toward India and British-Indians, particularly with regard to the Kashmir dispute, in order to actively visit Hindu temples and win over Hindu voters in the UK in the run-up to the elections. It appears that the Hindu vote is “the prized ingredient” in all significant global elections.
Particularly in the US, where Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president and vice president and the daughter of Indian Hindu Shyamala Gopalan, through whom she was introduced to Hinduism, is at present.
In Hindu mythology, even her name Kamala has significance as it is linked to the Lotus flower and Sri Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Kamala Harris attributes her fervor for social justice to her ties to Hinduism. Indians are feeling more comfortable and respected not only in the US but globally as well. Not even close to being one of the few “recognisable Hindu names” in American politics is Kamala Harris.
As the youngest elected Indian and Hindu in US history and a senator from Ohio, Neeraj Antani is also a member of the Republican Party. He has frequently and vehemently condemned Hinduphobia. Indian-American donors trust Democratic Party leader Bhavini Patel.
Hinduism is the fourth most popular religion in the United States as of August 2024. The second-largest immigrant group in America is made up of Indians. Approximately 10% of Asian Americans, or 5.8% of the US population overall, identify as Hindu. The eighth-largest Hindu population in the world resides in the United States. This figure is expected to rise, with the United States expected to host the fifth-largest Hindu population by 2050, according to research from the Pew Research Center.
Hindu population growth is predicted to be fastest in North America between 2010 and 2050 (160 percent), more than six times faster than the region’s predicted rate of rise in population (26%).
These are some absurd figures that have genuine ramifications in a democracy. The amounts for which they are writing checks for donations are just as significant as their numbers. The US Capitol played host to the inaugural Hindu American Summit for Political Engagement in June of last year.
The American Hindu PAC (Political Action Committee) and a few other Hindu diaspora organizations organized this, with the primary goal of bringing the issues facing the US Hindu community to legislators.
The origins of the India lobby in the United States started in 1991, when BJP leader LK Advani launched the “Overseas Friends of the BJP” (OFBJP) to “educate American lawmakers, American people, and the Indian community about the true principles of the BJP.” It became almost a protective shield for India’s external image.
In 1993, Gopal Raju, an Indian-American entrepreneur, formed the Indian American Centre for Political Action (IACPA), intended to mould brand new generations of politically remarkable and astute Indian-Americans.
Along with arranging internships on Capitol Hill, Raju also hired Ralph Nunberger, a legislative liaison for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, to help the organisation.
In an effort to fortify ties between the US and India, Raju, Congressman Frank Pallone, and Bill McCollum finally founded the India Caucus, an organization that acknowledged India as a partner and ally.
Democrat Gary Ackerman was another important player in the diplomatic ties between the two nations; he acknowledged the need and advocated for further cooperation between India, Israel, and the United States of America.
The India Caucus grew from less than ten members to a quarter of the US Congress in under ten years. Of course, the Indian community in America benefited much from its strong sense of entrepreneurship and vast financial resources.
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Organizations like Hindu American PAC, Hindus 4 America, Republican Hindu Coalition, and others gained significant clout in America by drawing inspiration from IACPA. Hindu Americans are being courted more aggressively than ever before in the upcoming elections, aside from their general financial and political influence. This is because they are perceived as the crucial “plug” to the gap that may arise as a result of the boycott of the Arab and Muslim votes in response to the administration’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
After Hindu Americans succeeded in getting California Governor Gavin Newsom to veto legislation that would have added “caste” to the list of discriminatory acts that is illegal, they are now a self-assured group.
Asians make up the second-largest ethnic group in Loudoun County, Virginia, behind white people. During his campaign, Governor Glenn Youngkin made an attempt to connect with the Hindu population, which ultimately swung the election in his favor. Most significantly, Indian-Americans truly turn out to vote; their numbers in swing states are constantly increasing. Ninety-seven percent of eligible voters indicated that they planned to vote in a 2020 American Asian Voter Survey.
While it may have been another in his long line of recent public faux pas, Biden was telling the truth when he made that comment in March 2021 during a conversation with scientist Swati Mohan, who is of Indian descent.
“It’s incredible how Americans of Indian heritage are gaining power in our country. Vinay Reddy, my speechwriter and vice president, is Indian-American, as is you. You people are amazing,” Biden had said.
Well said, Mr. Biden. Whether he says it out loud or not, he will undoubtedly not be the last American president to consider this.
