The interns selected for IACPA’s Washington Leadership Program 2003, on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 17. (Photo: Christopher Dumm)

The growth of the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) and its Washington Leadership Program (WLP) reflect a similar trend by the entire Indian-American community. The overall community across America has become an ever more potent economic, social, educational and medical force in recent years. This has been reflected in the growing political role of Indian Americans in the United States. More than ever, there are an increasing number of Indian-American candidates for office, elected officials, staff to political figures, media leaders, and political activists. Most significant, ever-increasing numbers of Indian Americans now understand the importance of setting political goals. Many have contacted their political representatives in order to achieve their objectives.

 On WLP

Dick Gephardt (D-MO), former House Minority Leader.	“(The Indian American Center for Political Awareness’s Washington Leadership Program is) among the very best of its kind in Washington, D.C.”
Class of 1995 (Spring)
It was one of my “most educational experiences” which provided me with “new perspectives into our governmental processes.”	Sudhanshu Dwivedi interned with Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Class of 1995 (Summer)
Probir Mehta interned with Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)	The program was “invaluable” and “it changed my attitude, my whole outlook...” and helped him set a goal of considering public office.
Class of 1997
“Representative Brown’s personal interest in India enabled me to focus on Indian matters. We came up with some good, and some not-so-good, ideas on how to bridge the gap between Indian culture and American ideals.”	Sreelakshmi S. Sonty interned with Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Class of 1999
Pia Das interned with Rep. Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA)	“As Americans, we have...responsibility to take part in the political process. This includes our duty to vote, educate ourselves and voice opinions.”
Class of 2001
“One of the most significant ways in which my summer influenced my life was through the relationships I created... with Washington insiders”	Sandeep Rao interned with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Class of 2002
Prerna Srivastava interned with Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)	“Every moment of the summer filled me with a heavy dose of adrenaline that will continue to pump through my veins for a long time to come.”

The Indian-American community has evolved in many ways since the immigration waves of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The first generations devoted much of their energies and talents to earning a living in their chosen fields to best support their families and create opportunities for their children.

While many of this group focused on professional accomplishments, many have come to understand that the next stage in the overall process is for the community as a whole to be able accomplish its political goals.

This fact has been clearly understood by virtually all of the over 120 university students from around the country who applied to participate in the 2003 WLP. For example, one applicant wrote in his application essay, “Although Indian Americans are becoming increasingly politically active, I have long lamented the conspicuous absence of South Asians at the top of the American political sphere, and I am convinced that it is up to my generation to fill the void.”

Another applicant wrote, “By more representation on Capitol Hill and in state and local government, Indians in general would be helped... We must continue to discuss politics at Indian functions, encourage politicians to attend our events and mingle, have organizations work on lobbying Congress to further the Indian-American agenda.” Many wrote that within the next decade it will be important for the community to have more than just four Indian Americans in state legislatures --- Maryland State Majority Leader Kumar Barve, Minnesota State Senator Satveer Chaudhary, New Jersey Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula and State Representative Swati Dandekar in Iowa.

These sentiments underscore Gopal Raju’s motives when he founded the Indian American Center for Political Awareness in 1994 and, a year later, the Washington Leadership Program. The program has grown and gained respect from the Indian community at large, members of Congress and their staff and, most important, from the participants themselves.

Many members of Congress have spoken out in praise of IACPA’s WLP. For example, former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), who has hosted interns from the program, has called this program “among the very best of its kind in Washington.” The program’s first intern, Sudhanshu Dwivedi from the University of Minnesota-Morris was placed in Representative Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) office in the Spring of 1995. The Congressman was so impressed with him and the overall program that he has hosted subsequent interns every year thereafter.

The program expanded in the summer of 1995 to five participants who were placed in the offices of Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and then-Senator Connie Mack (R-FL), as well as Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Alcee Hastings (D-FL).

By 1996, WLP grew to 16 participants who were selected from over 50 applicants. Their exciting adventures literally began on their first day in the program, when they learned that Congress was about to consider an amendment offered by Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) that was designed to cut aid to India. The group immediately went to Capitol Hill to assist in the successful lobbying effort against the passage of this amendment.

By 1997, published reports credited the program as “the largest and best Asian American Congressional internship program in the country.” That year, over 400 students from across the country requested applications and over 80 submitted completed forms. Over half of the 16 Indian-American students selected that year had won academic awards at their universities, and nearly half had won National Merit Scholarships or were valedictorians of their high school classes.

By 1998, nearly 150 Indian American university students applied to participate in the program. In addition to their Congressional assignments, the 15 interns spent a great deal of time in seminars, discussions and retreats designed to enhance their leadership capabilities and their understanding of their Indian-American heritage. They met with Indian leaders from the left and right of the political spectrum; from Maryland Delegate Barve (D-MD) to noted author Dinesh D’Souza. They also held meetings with representatives of the Hispanic Caucus and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies to enhance their networks and to determine how to coordinate political activities.

Word of the program has continued to spread to campuses throughout the U.S. Over 150 students applied to participate in the summer of 2001. Sixteen were placed on Capitol Hill and another student was assigned to IACPA’s Washington office. As in previous years, in addition to their office work, all participants attended a weekly speakers’ series, were invited to a dinner at the home of the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, and took part in frequent seminars, discussion sessions, and leadership training.

WLP 2002 was featured in the Capitol Hill newspaper The Hill in their July 24, 2002 edition. Their article on Washington internships, which included a photo of the Indian American students in IACPA’s program, also quoted a number of WLP participants.

As the experiences over the course of the past eight years have proven, the WLP enables the entire community to benefit. Certainly, those who gain the most are the participants. But, equally important, when they return to their communities and universities, they are able to share their new knowledge and experiences to set the stage for even great community empowerment.

Most of the interns do not plan careers in public policy. This program is beneficial to those who think about eventually running for a public office or working for a branch of the federal or local government. But, it also benefits those who plan to go into other fields such as law, medicine, hotel management or computer science. Actions by the government affect every individual in this country and those who understand the processes well are best able to succeed in any walk of life.

This is a program that is essential to all Indian Americans and deserves even wider support so that it can continue to aid the entire community.

(The writer teaches international relations at Georgetown University and is Of Counsel in the Washington, D.C., law firm of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds. He is a Washington Associate with the IACPA)