Raghu Devaguptapu (standing), director of financial services at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, talks to WLP interns about the importance of conveying the message in a political campaign. (Photo: Christopher Dumm)

For eight weeks this summer, 15 Indian-American university students chose to participate in the Washington Leadership Program (WLP), which places them as interns in Congressional offices. Rather than spending their summers working on Wall Street or taking extra classes at school, these young Indian Americans chose to come to Washington, D.C., to learn the intricacies of Congress and the leadership skills that will help them to become true leaders of the community and the nation.

The WLP is run by the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA), and was founded by Gopal Raju in 1994. The WLP allows participants to learn firsthand how the Congress works by working for Members of Congress. They also gain important leadership skills and interact with policymakers and leading Indian-American politicians. The program has grown tremendously over the past decade to include 150 alumni spread all over the country. For the second year in a row, a delegation of six WLP interns traveled to India after the internship to understand the political process there and gain an insight into the world’s largest democracy. This year, six interns traveled to India between Aug. 7 and 16, where they met with politicians such as Sonia Gandhi and L.K. Advani, policymakers, and prominent media, and think tank figures. As in years past, IACPA received about 150 applications for one of the 15 slots in the 2004 WLP. The interns chosen for the program represent a variety of cultural, geographical, academic and political differences that make them a truly diverse group. They were united by their desire to understand politics, the government and Congress. They were also united by their strong desire to get involved and to make a difference.

The 15 interns spent a week before their internships learning about politics, Congress, Washington and other aspects of leadership and the community. During that week, they participated in various discussions, debates and meetings that prepared them for their experiences on Capitol Hill. Particular among the activities that the interns participated in was a voter registration drive in which the interns went to a large Indian-American community gathering and stressed the importance of voting to the assembled crowd by registering voters. After the orientation week, the WLP participants started their work in their offices. Interns worked a full 40 hours a week for their various Representatives and Committees. Additionally, the interns also attended a comprehensive series of meetings, lectures, and discussions prepared by IACPA, which helped to round out their experience.

The interns attended a weekly lecture series on topics of importance to the Indian-American community. This annual Speaker Series has in past years included the likes of Bobby Jindal and Kumar Barve. This summer, the public events highlighted several speakers, including Former Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth, Former Consul General of Mumbai David Good, Political Counselor at the Indian Embassy Vikrim Misri, Sikh Mediawatch Director Preetmohan Singh, and American Jewish Committee Washington Director David Bernstein.

Priya Dayananda, lobbyist with America’s Community Bankers, left, with WLP intern Shekar Krishnan. (Photo: Christopher Dumm)

In addition to the weekly lecture series, interns also attended several other events. One such was the annual Indo-American Friendship Council dinner hosted by Dr. Krishna Reddy at the Cannon House Office Building, where the interns escorted Members of Congress into the event.

Additionally, IACPA staff arranged a private meeting with Rakesh Sood, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy. Sood discussed with the interns various aspects of the Indo-U.S. relationship and about the role of the Indian-American community.

After the meeting, the WLP participants had an opportunity to interact with a wide array of senior Embassy staffers at a dinner held for them at the Chancellery. At the end of their six weeks in Congressional offices, the interns again spent a week with IACPA staff to discuss their experiences, learn how they can continue to participate and contribute, meet various Indian-American roll models, and further investigate the issues confronting the Indian-American community. The interns met with former Congressional candidate Neil Dhillon who talked to them about the challenges of being a leader. He told the interns, “You are (the Indian-American community’s) future leaders, we are banking on you.” During this week, the interns also had the opportunity to meet with a wide array of Indian-American professionals in Washington who are blazing new paths in the political and policy worlds. Raghu Devaguptapu of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee met with the interns to talk about the challenges facing the Indian-American community in elected politics.

Sonal Shah, founder of Indicorps, third from left, with WLP interns (from left) Ketaki Gokhale, Krystle Kaul, Sumon Dantiki, and Jason Rathod. (Photo: Christopher Dumm)

Priya Dayananda of America’s Community Bankers spoke to the interns about the challenges of being a South Asian woman in the lobbying world and how she addresses and changes policy. Nisha Desai of InterAction spoke of her time on the House International Relations Committee and about the international development field. Sonal Shah of Indicorps met with the group to talk about volunteerism and about her work at Indicorps. Additionally, interns went on a behind the scenes tour of the Washington Post newspaper to look at how the media influences politics. At the Post, they had a lengthy discussion about South Asians in the media with S. Mitra Kalita, head of the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA).

All the particpants in this year’s WLP said they gained tremendously from the program and they had a unique and inspiring summer. Many of their impressions are printed below.