Modi addressing the United States Congress

The 30-million Indian Diaspora has resources which can help Modi to fulfill his ambitious goals at home. They are capable of bringing more innovation to the India’s economy the same way as they helped transform India into information technology center of the world.

Indian Americans occupy positions of power, influence and significance in academia, business and politics and several hold high appointed positions in the government. They played a pivotal role in getting the civil nuclear deal passed from the U.S Congress a few years ago. It is the same agreement under which Prime Minister Modi during his June 2016 visit to USA got American firm Westinghouse to close a deal with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for setting up six reactors in Andhra Pradesh.

Overseas Indians have numerous achievements in their karmabhumi, developed clout and form a credible force. They are capable of contributing money, time and technical expertise to programs and projects of their liking. Prime Minister Modi’s dialogue with the Indian Diaspora during his overseas visits is the best way to remind expatriate Indians about their Indian-ness and motivate them to help in the resurgence of India.        

—Inder Singh regularly writes on Indian Diaspora. He is the author of The Gadar Heroics—life sketches of over 50 Gadar heroes. He is Chairman of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). He was president of GOPIO from 2004-2009, president of National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) from 1988-92 and chairman from 1992-96. He was founding president of Federation of Indian Associations in Southern California. He can be reached at indersingh-usa@hotmail.com