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South Asians favour Democrats: Survey |
One of the first attempts to measure the political leanings of South Asian voters in the US has confirmed that they are and remain supporters of the Democratic Party. Exit polls of four Senate elections last November showed that, on average, nearly 87 per cent of South Asians voted for the Democratic Party. The polls were conducted by the Asian-American Legal Defence and Educational Fund and had a sample size of 1200.
The conventional wisdom has been that Indian-Americans split their vote between the two main US parties 70-30, with the majority going to the Democrats. However, this figure has been based on anecdotal evidence or informed guesses rather than any empirical evidence.
These polls would seem to indicate that Democratic support among South Asians is much higher than previously thought. Maryland and New Jersey reported Democratic support among South Asians at 86-87 per cent, 79 per cent in Pennsylvania and even higher in Virginia.
However, more data would be needed to confirm these exit polls represent a national trend.
First, most of the polls were conducted in East Coast states, areas that are traditionally strongholds of liberal politics. The sizeable Indian-American populations in states like Texas or Ohio, for example, are believed to vote for Republican. Democratic Party activist Ramesh Kapur has claimed Indian-Americans played a crucial role in ensuring the swing state of Ohio went to George W Bush in the 2004 presidential elections.
Indian-Americans are rarely decisive in any US election. They number only about 2.5 million and, according to Sanjay Puri of the lobby group USINPAC, have a low voter participation rate. Where they count more is in the area of funding because they are among the richest ethnic groups in the US. Because the wealthier Indian-Americans tend to vote Republican, many conservatives believe the community’s political contributions are evenly split between the two parties.
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Dalip Singh Saund Commemorative Book Mark released at Sikh Gurudwara in Palatine
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Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) and the Sikh religious Society (SRS) collaborated to host the Organization of Chinese Americans, Inc. (OCA-Chicago) to release a Book Mark featuring Dr. Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian American U.S. Congressman (elected in 1956 from 29th. congressional district California), among other notable Top Ten Asian Pacific American Achievers. It was OCA-Chicago’s Tenth Anniversary of the APA Heritage Month Book Mark Project.
Congressman Saund was born in 1899 in Punjab, India. He came to US in 1920 and completed PHD in mathematics from Berkley. He lived through many discriminatory practices prevalent in US at that time, but eventually with his hard work and optimism succeeded in becoming the first US Congressman of color. He served from Jan 3, 1957 to Jan 3 1963. He died in 1973.
A large size bookmark was unveiled on Sunday, May 6, 2007 at the Sikh Gurdwara, Sikh Religious Society in Palatine, Illinois. The event was presented in collaboration with the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago.
Nancy Loo, FOX Chicago TV news anchor, emceed this event. Palatine Mayor Rita Mullin also attended along with several Asian American leaders of Chicago. Harvind Kaur Singh spoke about the life of Congressman Saund. A picture of Golden Temple was presented to Nancy Loo by the SRS president Raghvinder Singh Mahal, Bhai Mohinder Singh and the PCS president Bhinder Singh Pamma. Nancy Loo mentioned her participation at this event, thanked the community and proudly displayed the picture gift during her newscasts on TV channel 32.
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Lord Swraj Paul donates half a million dollars to American University
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In memory of his daughter Ambika, NRI industrialist Swraj Paul of the UK has donated $500,000 to Carnegie Mellon University in the US.
The university will use the funds to develop an infant Lab Suite to design interventions to help children with developmental disabilities such as autism and language impairment. Experts at the institution are at the leading edge of research dedicated to understanding how infants think and learn and will focus on understanding how they achieve cognitive and linguistic milestones.
Carnegie Mellon is internationally recognised for its world class innovative leadership in educaton.
Paul’s Ambika Paul Foundation promotes education, culture and health around the world including in India with a Cultural Centre, a School of Manufacturing and Material Technology, a sports stadium and a community health centre.
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Awards conferred on NRI physician and philanthropist in US
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Eminent physician Sudhir Parikh and philanthropist Sunder H. Mansukhani have been presented special awards by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin.
Parikh restated his commitment to the Associaton and to the cause of health care and has received international acclaim in the treatment of allergies and immunology. Parikh is a strong poponent of India’s interests and has provided support guidance and funds to a number of worthy causes and organisations.
The Association has over 45,0000 members and is one of the most powerful groups that interacts with the US administration on issues relating to doctors, particularly those of Indian origin.
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Hindu Center/Temple of New York honours Dr Parveen Chopra
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Present in the picture ( L-R) are Honorable Judge Robert Schmidt - New York State Supreme Court Judge; Mrs. Usha Chopra, Honorable Judge Richard Lawrence - New York State Supreme Court Judge; Dr. & Commissioner Parveen Chopra - Honoree; Dr. BK Mehta - Chairman Board of Trustees; Mr. Krishnan Kalra, Mr. SM Kathuria, Back Row: Dr. R. Goyal, Dr. J.P. Bansal, Mr. Giri Chhabra - President, Mr. J.C. Awasthi, Mr. Avtar Sharma
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Nevada University graduates blessed with Gita verses
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Graduating students of the University of Nevada in the US were blessed with verses from the Bhagavad Gita, the profoundest of Hindu scriptures, during their second annual interfaith baccalaureate service that included readings and prayers from other religions as well.
Reading Sanskrit ‘shlokas’ (verses) from the Gita on Wednesday, Rajan Zed, director of Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada, defined knowledge as “humility, tolerance, simplicity, self-control, absence of false ego, detachment and the search for absolute truth”.
The baccalaureate service is usually where a sermon is delivered to the graduating class. The first documented baccalaureate service at the university was said to have taken place in 1917.
Zed concluded his prayers by chanting “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti”, which translates as “Peace be unto all”, and the audience repeated after him.
Since Hinduism is a minority religion, there is little awareness about it among the general public and many misconceptions and stereotypes exist.
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Indo-Canadian museum in Toronto to showcase NRI heritage
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At a cost of some $25 million, a museum to showcase and preserve the heritage of Indo Canadians is to be opened shortly as a part of the Swaminarayan complex, in Toronto, which includes a Hindu temple. It will include exhibits on the contribution of Indian civilisation to the world in the areas of science, math, medicine, art and linguistics. It will also chronicle the migration of the Indian diaspora.
The goal is to educate Canadian society and enhance a sense of pride in Indio Canadians, promoting the message of pluralism and unity in diversity.
Indo Canadians number 713,330 which makes up nearly 3 per cent of the total population, which is concentrated in Ontario, Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal.
The museum is being designed and built based on Vedic engineering principles used 10,000 years ago, that used limestone, marble and teak, and has been sculpted by artisans from India.
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