Nisha Biswal
Nisha Desai Biswal is a prominent American public official and strategist with over 30 years of experience in foreign policy, international development, and the private sector. Born in Gujarat, India, she immigrated to the U.S. and earned a degree from the University of Virginia. Biswal has held senior roles, including Deputy CEO of the U.S. […]
Arun Kumar
Arun Kumar is a Managing Partner at Celesta Capital, a venture capital firm focused on deep technology with offices in San Francisco and Bangalore. Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of KPMG in India and was a member of their global board. During the Obama Administration, Arun served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for […]
Indian American Women Lead the Nation’s Largest Health Agency
Two Indian American women rose to senior leadership at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that provides health coverage to more than 160 million Americans and oversees roughly $1.5 trillion in annual spending. Seema Verma became the first Indian American to lead CMS as Administrator from 2017 to 2021. In […]
The ‘Samosa Caucus’ Is Named on Capitol Hill
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi coined the term “Samosa Caucus” to describe the growing number of Indian American members of Congress. As the community’s representation expanded, Ami Bera became the longest-serving Indian American in congressional history, while members assumed influential roles on committees overseeing foreign affairs, intelligence, armed services, and the judiciary. The nickname came to symbolize […]
Vivek Murthy Redefines the Role of America’s Surgeon General
Dr. Vivek Murthy became the first person of Indian origin to serve as U.S. Surgeon General, transforming the office into a leading voice on the nation’s most pressing social and public health challenges. He issued the first comprehensive federal report framing addiction as a chronic brain disease and later declared loneliness a national public health […]
The Ultimate Sacrifice: An Indian American Hero Receives the Purple Heart
At just 21 years old, Sergeant Uday Singh became the first Indian American casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On December 1, 2003, his unit was ambushed while conducting a routine patrol in Habbaniyah, Iraq. Serving as a Humvee machine gunner, Singh aggressively returned fire to protect his platoon, allowing his comrades to take cover before […]
Usha Vance Becomes Second Lady of the United States
Usha Chilukuri Vance became Second Lady of the United States in 2025, the first person of Indian origin to hold the role. As the spouse of Vice President J.D. Vance, she brings an Indian American story into the White House at a moment of increasing diversity in national leadership. Her position introduced millions of Americans […]
Indian American Candidates Reimagine Urban Political Power
Ravinder Bhalla was elected mayor of Hoboken in 2017, becoming the first turban-wearing Sikh elected mayor in the United States. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the 112th Mayor of New York City on January 1, 2026, becoming the first mayor of South Asian descent to lead the nation’s largest city. Their victories reflected the […]
Indian American Women Seek the Presidency
Two women of Indian origin mounted historic campaigns for the American presidency. Nikki Haley sought the Republican nomination in 2024, while Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for president the same year. Their campaigns placed women of Indian origin at the forefront of national politics, demonstrating that the highest office in the United States was […]
Samosa Caucus Reaches Record Six Members in Congress
Following the 2024 elections, six Indian Americans served simultaneously in the U.S. House of Representatives, marking the largest congressional delegation of Indian origin in American history. Suhas Subramanyam won the election from Virginia, becoming the first Indian American elected to Congress from the East Coast. The expanded “Samosa Caucus” reflected the community’s growing electoral reach […]