Wake Up, Indian Diaspora: Silence Is Hurting India

Wake Up, Indian Diaspora! Silence Is Hurting India–U.S. Relations Recently, several developments have challenged the strength of the U.S.–India relationship—from the shocking 50% tariff on Indian goods and the $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike to the unsettling sight of a U.S. president inviting Pakistan’s top military leader to Washington while disregarding India’s strategic sensitivities. Add to this the growing incidents of vandalism at Hindu temples and gurdwaras, and the silence from the Indian-American community becomes even more concerning.

During a recent interaction with a visiting U.S. Congressional delegation, MP Shashi Tharoor made a revealing remark: one U.S. congresswoman admitted she had not received a single phone call from an Indian-American voter regarding these issues. This silence speaks volumes.

If we, the Indian diaspora, truly care about the motherland and about preserving a respectful and balanced partnership between India and the United States, we must speak up—not with anger, but with purpose. Silence helps no one. It allows misinformation to thrive and gives policymakers the impression that we are indifferent to issues affecting our community and our ancestral homeland.

From Observers to Advocates

It’s time to shift from being passive observers to active participants in democracy. Advocacy doesn’t require holding political office—it begins with small, consistent actions:

Call or email your elected officials. Tell them how trade policies, visa restrictions, or religious intolerance affect you and your community.
Write letters to the editors of local newspapers and magazines. Public opinion shapes political reality.
Attend political rallies and community meetings. Be visible. When our faces are seen and our voices are heard, policymakers take notice.
Join and support Indian or Hindu organizations that organize peaceful rallies and awareness campaigns against vandalism, discrimination, and unfair legislation.

Every call, every email, and every presence counts. U.S. lawmakers listen to their constituents—and if they don’t hear from us, they assume we don’t care.

The Power of Civic Engagement

Many of us arrived in the United States seeking opportunity, education, and freedom. Now, as successful entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders, it’s our duty to engage in civic life with the same enthusiasm we show in our temples, businesses, and cultural events.

If you are a U.S. citizen, register to vote—and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Participate in primaries and local elections, where policy often takes shape. Indian-Americans represent over five million strong voices, yet our political participation remains far below our potential influence.

A Call to Collective Responsibility

We must remember that the strength of the India–U.S. partnership depends not only on diplomatic strategy but also on diaspora advocacy. Each of us is an ambassador of India’s values—democracy, pluralism, and resilience. When those values are challenged, silence is not neutrality; it is surrender.

Let this be a wake-up call. The next time a U.S. policy affects India, or a Hindu temple is vandalized, or an unfair visa law is passed, let the phones in congressional offices ring with calls from proud, informed, and engaged Indian-Americans—standing together, speaking for our heritage, and protecting our future.