Vinai Thummalapally
Vinai Thummalapally is an American diplomat and business leader. In 2009, he became the first person of Indian origin to serve as a U.S. ambassador when President Barack Obama appointed him Ambassador to Belize. A longtime entrepreneur and civic leader before entering government, he later served as Executive Director of SelectUSA, promoting foreign investment in […]
Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal is an American politician who became the first Indian American elected governor of a U.S. state when he won Louisiana’s governorship in 2007. Before serving two terms as governor, he represented Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives, ending a more than forty-year absence of Indian Americans in Congress since Dalip Singh Saund. […]
Kumar Barve
Kumar Barve is a Maryland legislator who became the first Indian American elected to a state legislature in the United States. Elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1990, he later served as Majority Leader, becoming one of the state’s most influential lawmakers. Over a legislative career spanning more than three decades, Barve championed […]
Mervyn M. Dymally
Mervyn M. Dymally was an American politician of Indian and African descent who spent more than four decades in public office. In 1974, he became California’s Lieutenant Governor, one of the highest-ranking elected officials of color in the United States at the time. He later represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he […]
Conjee Rustomjee Couhujee Bey (Antonio Gomez)
Conjee Rustomjee Couhujee Bey was among the earliest documented people of Indian origin to serve in the United States military. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy under the name Antonio Gomez, he served for two years during the American Civil War. His service established an early record of Indian participation in the nation’s armed forces during […]
Paragi Patel
Paragi Patel is a philanthropist and community leader dedicated to advancing education, healthcare, and civic engagement. Together with Dr. Umang Patel, she has supported charitable initiatives that strengthen public health, educational opportunity, and nonprofit leadership. Her work emphasizes collaborative philanthropy, community partnerships, and long-term institutional impact. Through sustained engagement with civic and charitable organizations, Patel […]
Dr. Umang Patel
Dr. Umang Patel is a physician, healthcare executive, and philanthropist whose career has focused on improving healthcare delivery through innovation and technology. Alongside his wife, Paragi Patel, he has supported initiatives in public health, education, and community development while advancing leadership within Indian American philanthropy. His professional work has emphasized digital health, patient-centered care, and […]
Minoo Gupta
Minoo Gupta is a philanthropist and community leader whose charitable work has advanced education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, and community development. Through sustained support for nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, she has helped strengthen initiatives that expand opportunity and improve quality of life in both the United States and India. Gupta has also encouraged greater civic […]
Saket Soni
Saket Soni is a labor organizer, human rights advocate, and founder of Resilience Force, a national organization representing disaster recovery workers across the United States. Following Hurricane Katrina, he emerged as a leading advocate for migrant workers who rebuild communities after natural disasters while often facing unsafe conditions and labor exploitation. Through organizing, litigation, and […]
Gautam Godhwani
Gautam Godhwani is a business leader and philanthropist whose charitable work has focused on education, healthcare, and community development. Working alongside his brother, Anil Godhwani, he has helped support nonprofit institutions dedicated to expanding educational access, advancing medical research, and strengthening civic life. His philanthropy reflects a belief in long-term institutional investment and collaborative leadership. […]