Raymon V. Pal, staff assistant at the office of Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY)

Washington - A Wharton Business School graduate, Raymon V. Pal, who recently joined the team of Capitol Hill staff assisting Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) has many ideas of fulfilling goals in life, especially lobbying for India’s cause before the international trade markets.

Pal, who has passed the CFA Level 1, a highly competitive financial examination that leads to a Chartered Financial Analyst designation, once came across a quote “just because you are poor does not mean you have to be poor in mind.” This made a profound impact on him and prodded him on to higher studies and on how to fulfill the American dream.

In an interview with News India-Times, Pal said, “Having always wanted to be a part of the Capitol Hill environment, especially since the time of my graduation, the doors finallyd up and this past January I was fortunate enough to be selected to join Congressman Crowley’s staff in Washington, D.C. A true leader, who is passionate about the issues he represents, I am excited about this opportunity to work closely with Congressman Crowley and his staff and ultimately work toward my goal of becoming a lobbyist in the international trade arena.”

Pal comes from a family of political activists. He said, “My interest in politics stemmed from my readings of the biographies of past U.S. presidents and the instant connection to effect changes and take on leadership roles. Marveled by the experiences of these individuals in terms of cultural and social achievement I set upon a journey to follow in their footsteps.”

Besides this, he said his father, Surinder Verma Pal, has been very active in the political scene, and is a member of the Indian American Friendship Council. “His involvement has led to many ties with some of India’s most prominent members of parliament and political appointees here in the U.S. It was then that I sought to work in an office where the issues facing India were valued and respected. I have also been inspired by Congressman Crowley’s rise through Congress, who eventually became the co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. This made working with him ideal,” Pal said.

At Wharton, his activities included being the business manager for the South Asian publication Lotus, running for junior class president, and tutoring underprivileged school students.

After graduating in the class of ’99, he became an equities trader at Tradescape Securites (acquired by eTrade) and AB Watley, with a brief stint at an Internet startup company BIOBN.

Pal, 26, said his parents emigrated from New Delhi in the early 70s to Toronto, Canada, and from there to the United States. His father owns an eye care center/clinic Value Vision Optical. His mother has been working for more than 15 years with the NY State Government as a senior rent examiner. He has one younger sister who is currently a sophomore in college.

On his work in Rep. Crowley’s office, Pal said he works closely with the Front Office, which encompasses a whole host of responsibilities. “Some of my responsibilities include working with constituent concerns and ideas, becoming well versed in the issues that affect New York as well as what is “in play” on the national front, to brainstorming and strategizing with the Chief of Staff on outreach programs to better serve our constituent base.”

Asked how he liked being part of Capitol Hill, he said, “It is a privilege to be a part of this environment. My experience thus far has been a memorable one and I look forward to strengthening my foundation with respect to mastering the political process. Having just recently been appointed to the leadership board of the Congressional Staffers Society as a vice president, I have been able to attend numerous receptions involving ambassadors, officials from the administration, and other politicos ----- this I must say has been a joy.”

About his views on Indian Americans participating in the political process, he felt that it is absolutely essential to have representation politically, whether at a local level or on the national stage. “It is only in this position that one can truly represent the voice of the Indian community. We are a vital part of the U.S. culture socially and economically and must never lose sight of this fact.”

He also wanted to convey a message to those Indians who do not necessarily come from wealthy background.

“It is very easy to get caught up in the rhetoric of the Indian-American success story and how we are the most financially secure minority community in the States. We must not lose sight of the fact that there are many Indians who are working very hard and long hours trying to make ends meet. I want to specifically tell them and their children to keep a positive attitude and build a strong foundation academically and culturally. Lastly, I would like to encourage more of my fellow Punjabi Indian Americans to get involved politically and also strive to achieve the most whether it maybe in the world of business, medicine, art, fashion, or entertainment ---- we need more representation.”