Capitol Debate

Hermon Raju, left, interns with Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY), who is the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. Rep Crowley hosted Anuja Raval in ’02 and Madhuri Singh in ’03.

Neepa Acharya, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will be a junior at Stanford University where she is a double major in Economics and Music. She will intern for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the Democratic Leader at the House of Representatives.

At Stanford, Neepa serves as the chair of Sanskriti, the undergraduate South Asian Organization on campus that explores South Asian and South Asian American identity. She also participates in Saheli, a South Asian feminist women’s coalition. In her spare time, Neepa hosts her own radio show called ‘Eclectica.’

In high school, Neepa served as the president of her class as well as student council, and was editor-in-chief of the yearbook. She was also active in the community, working with the India Music Society, Milwaukee County Zoo and Art Museum, and participating in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. This summer, Neepa hopes to understand how to specifically serve the needs of the South Asian community within the overarching federal government system. She hopes to use the internship to further her interests in working on public policy related to women and the South Asian community.

SUMON DANTIKI

Sumon Dantiki, left, interns with Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who has hosted WLP interns every year since 1995. Rep. Brown hosted Sudhanshu Dwivedi in ’95, Anita Banerji ’96, Sreelakshmi Sita Sonty ’97, Poonam Desai ’98, Rohit Goel ’99, Sunit Singh ’00, Kavita Shah ’01, Prerna Srivastava ’02, and Veena Srinivasa in ’03.

Sumon Dantiki, son of Sudhakar and Vani Dantiki, is a graduating senior from the University of Michigan. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in May 2004 with an Honors concentration in Political Science. Sumon will intern with Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

At the University of Michigan, Sumon served as the editor-in-chief of the Michigan Journal of Political Science, the premier undergraduate political science publication in the United States, for three years. He is also the winner of the International Studies Association’s 2003 Best Undergraduate Paper Award for International Law and was one of 20 American students named ‘Future Global Leaders’ by the International Institute of Education in 2002.

Sumon hopes to learn more about the legislative process, particularly with regard to defense and foreign policy issues. After his internship this summer, Sumon will study United Nations peacekeeping operations and Canadian foreign policy on a J. William Fulbright scholarship at McGill University in Montreal.

ATIYA KHAN

Atiya Khan, the daughter of Sharif and Almas Khan, resides in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She is a rising junior at Smith College, pursuing a major in Political Science with a focus on modern political theory. Atiya will intern with Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL). At Smith College, Atiya is an active member of the Student Government, and had the honor of representing the student body as a senator. She served as president of the Muslim Student Association for the 2003-04 academic year. She was elected by her peers to serve as head of New Students, which organizes events throughout the year to welcome new students and ease their transition. With her internship on Capitol Hill, Atiya hopes to gain insights into public policy. She believes that this experience will help her decide what she wants to do after her undergraduate career.

KRYSTLE KAUL

Krystle Kaul, left, interns with Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA). Rep. Meehan hosted Sheila Warren in ’96, Parul Singh ’97, Priyanka Nair ’98, Roona Ray ’99, and Ami Naik in ’02.

Krystle Kaul is a rising junior at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C., where she is majoring in International Studies. She is originally from Long Island, N.Y. Krystle will be an intern with Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA). Krystle is very active at American University, especially in spreading diversity around campus. She is the president and intercultural chair of the South Asian Student Alliance.

Krystle is very passionate about Kashmir, and efforts to bring peace to the region. She plans on studying peace and conflict resolution as a master’s student and international law as a law student. Krystle is also a passionate women’s rights advocate, and hopes to work on increasing rights for South Asian women. She hopes that working on Capitol Hill this summer will allow her to better understand the world of politics, and how the Hill works.

VIJAY DAS

Vijay Das, left, interns with Rep. Denise Majette (D-GA). Rep. Majette hosted Sundeep Sood in ’03.

Vijay Das is a rising junior at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He will graduate with his B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Religion in May, 2006. He lives in Alpharetta, Georgia with his family. This summer, Vijay will intern for Congresswoman Denise Majette (D-GA).

At Vassar, as the Asian Students Alliance Political Committee leader, Vijay planned Vassar’s ‘Simultaneous Genocides: Cambodia and East Timor’ awareness event. Vijay has been very active in Vassar’s South Asian Students Alliance, Vassar College Democrats, and the Vassar chapter of Amnesty International. As a member of the Athenian High School class of 2002, in Danville, CA, Vijay was paramount in organizing a Multicultural Fundraiser Showcase for Ugandan AIDS Orphans. Vijay hopes to use his internship this summer to fuel his desire to go into public interest law.

KETAKI GOKHALE

Ketaki Gokhale, left, interns with Rep. Jim Langevin (D-CT). Rep. Langevin hosted Anoop Raman in ’02.

Ketaki Gokhale, the daughter of Sushama and Vishwas Gokhale, will be a fourth year student at Brown University this fall. At Brown, she is pursuing a double major in English and History. She will be an intern for Congressman Jim Langevin (D-CT) this summer.

Her focus in literature is Renaissance drama and she was recently awarded Brown’s Kenneth Greif Prize for her work on Shakespeare. Currently, she is working on her senior honors thesis, which examines British writings on India from the pre-colonial period. In Washington, she hopes to connect her interest in political rhetoric and the building of perception to politics in our time. Ketaki hopes that her internship this summer will help her decide how best to apply her passions for writing and public service.

JASON RATHOD

Jason Rathod, left, interns with Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)

Jason Rathod, son of Sam and Ella Rathod, is from Hastings, Nebraska. Jason is a rising junior at Grinnell College in Iowa, where he is a double major in Political Science and Religious Studies. He will work in Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s (D-OH) office.

At Grinnell, Jason is active in politics where he is a member of Grinnell’s chapter of Young Democrats. Additionally, he has volunteered for Tom Harkin’s senatorial campaign, and Howard Dean and John Kerry’s presidential campaigns.

One day Jason hopes to be elected to public office himself. Grasping the intricacies of Capitol Hill politics and policymaking will certainly lay a firm foundation for Jason to pursue such a future.

SHVETA KUMRA

Shveta Kumra, left, interns with Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME)

Shveta Kumra is a freshman at Boston University, and was raised and continues to reside in Port Washington, N.Y. She hopes to eventually pursue a career in medicine. She will intern for Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME).

Shveta was an active member in student council and an avid participant in her class club, which organized school events. She also volunteers at local homeless shelters and soup kitchens.

In her free time, Shveta enjoys dance and music. She is a trained dancer, concentrating on classical Indian dances as well as hip-hop, belly-dancing, and jazz. She speaks English and Hindi fluently and is conversant in Spanish and Punjabi.

This summer, Shveta hopes to gain a deep understanding of the political issues that shape the community.