Small Community, Big Contributions – Boundless Horizons

Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen! 

I invite you to join me on a journey through memory lane, back to the event I attended on 12th August and here’s what and how I felt it to be. This is my experience of the Indiaspora X Boston Consulting Group Impact Report (Small Community, Big Contributions: Boundless Horizons) Launch Event. Together, let’s delve into this expedition of discovering some awestriking stories that will captivate our imagination and leave us inspired. 

Gathering of Minds 

From a small town in India to the bustling streets of Silicon Valley, the story of Indian-Americans is one of transformation, resilience and boundless horizons. On the bright morning of August 12th 2024, in the Oberoi Hotel Delhi, the ballroom was filled with the stories of those who dared to dream big and transform a nation far from home. It was a gathering representing 5.1 million and their collective strength as a small community with big contributions. The Indian diaspora is viewed to be a dynamic, influential community that has carried the traditions of its rich heritage across the globe. The US is home to the second largest said community, putting these people at the interchange of an interesting relationship between the oldest and the largest democracy. As global citizens with deep roots of वसधु वै कुटुम्बकम ्(World is my Family) ethos, the launch of the Indiaspora report painted a vivid picture of a community that transcends borders. The Impact Report titled ‘Small Community, Big Contributions: Boundless Horizons’ is the first volume in a series to look at the impact of the Indian diaspora, with a special focus on public service, business, culture and innovation in the United States It was a celebration, a reflection and a launchpad for the future; all rolled into one. Here, the Indian diaspora’s impact on global society was not just acknowledged and discussed but also felt deeply by everyone present. 

Vision and Narrative of the Impact 

The event began at 10 am with opening remarks by M.R. Rangaswami, Founder – CEO Indiaspora; and Neeraj Aggarwal, Asia Pacific Chair of BCG highlighting the statistics and stories of the impact that Indians in America have across five key dimensions – economic, scientific, social, cultural and civic. This report was both a revelation and a celebration – of the remarkable achievements of Indian Americans, both in the US and their contributions to India. In addition to a wealth of eye-opening statistics, it also featured profiles of inspiring individuals who epitomize the contribution of the diaspora across the full range of economic and cultural areas. We have left our footprints, from cuisine to cricket and beyond. But what they consistently focused on is the relevance of this report as more of an Impact Report than a Success Report in its essence. Behind these numbers are stories, goals and dreams that came to life in powerful ways.

There were instances of how Indians have contributed to strengthening social development in America, and how our advancements in education and healthcare systems have made us one of the most influential diasporas in the USA. 78% of this community have completed a bachelor’s or higher education. We have 22,000 people who are contributing as researchers, faculty members and academicians. Every 1 in 10 doctors in America is an Indian. 

Some of the other Insights of the Report are: 

– Indian diaspora’s share of patents increased from 1.9% in 1975 to 10% in 2019 – There are more yoga centres in America than McDonald’s 

– Indian American households contribute $1.5 – 2 billion annually to charity – 5 to 6% of taxes are contributed by 1.5% of the Indian population 

– 16 Indian CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies 

The report can be accessed here: Indiaspora Full Impact Report

Next up, the US Ambassador to India delivered a Special Address to the audience.  Eric Garcetti spoke about how this report was not only a reflection of Indian Americans but of America itself. He shared his personal anecdote of our shared partnerships in developing malaria vaccines at the Serum Institute of India in Pune. He reiterated the words of our Founder that this report is not about numbers but narrative; not statistics but stories. Speaking from the standpoint of the USA, he considers India – US to be in the best time, the best moment and the best relationship – “There’s no stopping now. America sees its future with India.” 

Ricky Kej, 3-time Grammy Award Winner and United Nations ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ had his surprise for people there. It was a beautiful, energizing, mesmerizing and epic rendition of the national anthem of Bharat with Indian artists like Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Bangash brothers and 14,000 tribal children contributing to making this melody. The song was a showcase of India, with different instruments and voices in harmony when played together and so is India with all its diversity and variety yet one in letter and spirit. The link to the Youtube video of this tribute – National Anthem Of Bharat (India) | Ricky Kej | Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia | The 14000 Tribal Children 

Dr S Jaishankar graced the occasion with his presence. Addressing the diaspora and Indians on a panel with MR Rangaswami and Rajan Navani, he presented how immigration flows shape the Foreign Policy matrix of a country. On asking what he does there, the Minister humorously replied “I meet with the diaspora.” He adds that there has been a drastic change since he first visited the USA as a Diplomat in the early 1980s. 

While acknowledging the contemporary times to be more complicated and exceptionally difficult, EAM drew the attention of audience to the responsibility India can shoulder in such times. Moreover, his reply reflected New Delhi’s position on its present and future in optimism ie finding solutions to the problems rather than finding problems to the proposed solution. And that’s how the ‘India Way’ is!

His address highlighted the importance of skills, talents and contributions in the case of diaspora. What is particularly unique about the Indian diaspora is its deep and rooted connection with the motherland. Any other diaspora didn’t maintain such a deep connect. However, in case of our diaspora, there are always Indian cultural systems at work in this engagement. It is a story of cultural confluence and contribution that continues to enrich the American tapestry. 

On being asked about the Young Indians and Americans, he aptly answered: “Youth have been indicating their preference for some time and it’s the non-youth is not listening to them.” The street sentiment and youth pulse build a roadmap for the official foreign policy framework. The perception of the US changed way before the official sentiment and now has strong public support in India. As techie youth brings digital collaboration, the Minister emphasized on ‘human connect’ citing trade, investment, education and tourism for technology as the yardsticks for our mapping relationship. 

Finally came the star moment of the event – The Report Launch by Dr Jaishankar, Eric Garcetti, MR Rangaswami and Rajan Navani. 

Following this were the remarks by Ms Nivedita Mehra – Managing Director, India of USISP and Alexander Slater, Managing Director – India at U.S.-India Business Council primarily focussing on opening new doors for business avenues in the USA and India and gateways for collaborations and partnerships in the field of technology, trade and business. Then was the discussion with Ms Debjani Ghosh, President of NASSCOM. 

The last in the row was a panel discussion revolving around Tech and Business, which was moderated by Sesh Iyer, North America Regional Co-chair for BCG. Panelists included Sanjay Kukreja – Partner & CIO at Chryscapital, Pratibha Jain – Head of Strategy & General Counsel at Everstone Group; and Sanjeev Bikhchandani – Founder & Executive Vice Chairman of Info Edge. One thing all of them unanimously agreed to is ‘We are all, young and old ‘digital natives’ and technology is a win-win partnership for both countries. And it was then turn for something all of us awaited – delicious lunch followed by closing remarks. 

MR Rangaswami’s announcement on the ‘Forum of Good’ to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2025 was an added pleasant surprise. After the G20 Forum for diaspora in which 300 leaders from

26 countries participated, this event is planned to be bigger and greater with around 500 leaders from the diaspora. 

The Execution: A Symphony of Efforts 

The entire team at Indiaspora and BCG worked  day and night to bring this report to life. Their  efforts materialized with the event planned and organized so magnificently. Behind the scenes, the dynamic and dedicated India team worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life. It was only possible through the collective efforts of Mr Sreekumar Nair, Manjula Manoj, Shrenya Mallik and Preeta D’Souza. The team’s efforts were a blend of meticulous planning and passionate execution, reflecting their deep commitment to celebrating the stories of the Indian diaspora. Their collaborative spirit and unwavering focus were key to making the event a resounding success. 

Epilogue: Legacy that Continues 

Each speaker, each statistic and each anecdote was a thread in a larger tapestry of Indian-American achievements. But what made this event special was how it wasn’t just about past successes; it was about the dreams that continue to drive this community forward. The Indian diaspora’s story is far from finished. But the real question is: What comes next? As they continue to push the limits of what’s possible, they are not just shaping the present—they are redefining the future for themselves and for generations to come. Now, it is not only US + India but US X India that the future holds for us. 

About The Author

Akshaa Jain is a politico enthusiast and learner pursuing Political Science Honours from Delhi University. She has a keen interest in elocutions, debating and public speaking. She is experienced in research and content writing with demonstrated success in the social impact sector, research skills, data analysis and literature surveys. She writes articles, research papers, creative pieces, etc. on international relations, philosophy and women rights. 

With her contribution to various organizations like the ASEAN Youth Organization, WICCI, Girl Up Club, International Parliament Journal and Youth Recommendations Committee (India) to UNCSW 68; she has worked in diverse work profiles and on varied socio-political issues. With the motto of “Serving mankind, Celebrating community”; she aims to bring about a positive change-driven impact. 

The author can be reached out at iamakshajain22@gmail.com.