‘Program gives our office an opportunity to interact with some of the brightest minds’

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), right, former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, with IACPA intern Satyam Khanna at the reception. Khanna is from WLP Class of 2005. He interned with Crowley.

To Gopal (Raju), to Veena (Merchant), to Ralph (Nurnberger). Thank you for what you do. Thank you for this internship program because it not only affords the opportunity for young Indian Americans to be on Capitol Hill, it also gives our offices an opportunity to interact with some of the brightest minds in America today. We appreciate that. I have a young man here today, Satyam Khanna.

Not unlike all the interns I get from this program, he hits the ground running. He is not only comfortable in our office, he also makes our office comfortable with him. I think that is a great thing to say about any intern because you only come for a certain time and no one knows you are coming here. We hope he goes back often in some professional capacity some years down the road. I appreciate the program. It is nice to see my doctor, Dr. Bhupi Patel, who comes here from Jackson Heights — that speaks volumes about the program, because he cares so much about this program. I thank you for this program.

‘I really want to get young people involved in the political process, particularly Indian Americans’

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, with IACPA intern Aakash Patel at the reception. Patel is from WLP Class of 2005. He interned with Wilson.

It is an honor to be with you. I am particularly so happy to see so many young people here today. I am very grateful that Aakash Patel is an intern in our office and I appreciate his working with this organization (IACPA).

I really want to get young people involved in the political process, particularly people who have the heritage of being Indian Americans. When I say that, the reason I do, I have seen first hand and lived first hand now having the very significant involvement of Indian Americans in the state

I represent in the United States and of course, the others I represent....

...I’m very grateful, that on my staff, we’ve got Dino Teppara. Dino has been the Counsel and Legislative Assistant. And I am very grateful that he is now being promoted to Legislative Director, one of the highest offices for a person of Indian American ancestry serving in Congress, and we are very proud of him.



Representatives; What They Said

‘I had the honor of having the first intern 11 years ago. I recognized it as the best’

Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), right, with IACPA intern Hirsh Sandesara at the reception. Sandesara is from WLP Class of 2005. He interned with Brown.

I had the honor of having the first India Abroad (as it was called those days) intern 11 years ago. I recognized it as the best…I shouldn’t say it too loud, that the best intern that we get every year is through this program. I know how competitive it is.

I know how some of the best and the brightest young men and women in the country apply for this and go through the screening process. We have one of them, Hirsh (Sandesara), whom I would like to introduce.

Thank you for all you do. This program is incredible. I remember there was something called the Burton Amendment, which was to cut the little bit of foreign assistance that we give to India every year anyway.

The year before India Abroad (IACPA) interns got involved, we barely defeated that amendment. In that one year if you remember, we organized the interns, about 10-15 on Capitol Hill, and we put together our own India Abroad (IACPA) Whip Operation, and defeated the amendment by literally a 100 votes. It had national reverberations in the Indian American community because people knew this generation was going to be heard from, this generation will have people out of this program who will end up as Members of Congress.

I have no doubts that in the next 10 or 15 years, one of you standing here maybe more, will actually develop members of Congress, develop members of state legislatures, activists through this country as the Indian community more and more integrates into our country....

‘My current intern is like the epitome of everything an Indian American should be. It’s true’

Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), right, with IACPA intern Hirsh Sandesara at the reception. Sandesara is from WLP Class of 2005. He interned with Brown.

This is my intern (Prem Trivedi). He is actually from my district Marlboro. He epitomizes what is so great about this program not only because he is so bright, and he works so hard, but also because of his interests.

He is a student at Columbia and I have read through some of the things he has been involved with and they are all volunteer programs.

He is obviously concentrating on Political Science because as we know, we want every Indian American to be involved in government and politics. He is like the epitome of someone who should be involved.

Beyond that he is also involved in efforts like the peace movement and efforts to inculcate non-violence and environmental issues and try to help the disadvantaged. He is like the epitome of everything an Indian American should be. It’s true.

And that is why this program is so great. Many of you know I have had interns for I don’t know for how many years and the program is really great because you send us great interns who can really be helpful in the office. They have such a learning experience in my opinion.

Today, I had to go to an American Indian conference and I was not prepared. I turned to Prem yesterday and I said I can’t go to this conference. But you have to go to the conference today and basically analyze what the American Indian issues are and come back and give me your report because I have to speak at the conference tomorrow. He looked at me and said “No problem.” And he had no background on American Indians.

I see a lot of community members here who are obviously supportive of the program, many of you I know. Please continue to support this program. This is an outstanding program. Anybody who has been on the Hill for the last 5 to 10 years knows that Indian American presence is growing with young people getting involved with politics and coming down here. This is what it is all about. All the things that you started out with this program years ago have come to fruition. Please continue to support this 100 percent. It is great.