Indian American community of US Capitol on October 26 hosted a Diwali event at Rayburn House office building. During the event, Indian-Americans who have been elected, appointed, and nominated to public office and staffers on Capitol Hill, representing the US Congress, were honoured for their contributions to government service.
Indiaspora, a non-profit organisation of global Indian diaspora leaders, organised and hosted the event along with several other organisations such as American Diwali, Art of Living Foundation, Association of Indian Muslims of America, Global Indian Jewish Relations Institute, Hindu American Foundation, among others.
The programme included a diya lighting ceremony with the speakers and remarks from several elected and appointed leaders in the federal government.
The founder of Indiaspora, MR Ranaswami, told Times of India, “With such a growing number of Indian Americans serving in all departments of government, it felt fitting that during Diwali, one of the most auspicious and celebrated occasions of the year, we recognise the service of these public servants in our community.”
The event was attended by senior US administration officials such as Neera Tanden, senior advisor to President Joe Biden and who has recently been named White House staff secretary, vice-admiral Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General etc.
“The fundamental inspiration of organising Diwali is to recognise and remember our light and the light within others,” Murthy was quoted as saying. “That is our charge today, in a world that has been turned upside down by this pandemic as well as a growing pandemic of polarisation.”
At the event, four members of Congress of Indian heritage- the longest-serving Indian American in Congress Ami Bera, vice-chair of the India caucus in the house of representatives RO Khanna, the first Indian American woman elected to the house of representatives Pramila Jayapal, and US Representative at Schaumburg Office and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi.
“We have come a long way as a community where someone can easily say as I do, that I am a proud Hindu American, and I am proud of celebrating Diwali,” stated RO Khanna, who pointed out his district in California has the largest Indian American community in the country.
Jayapal said, “I think of Diwali as a time of sustenance- the food, the lights and a community- event. To find sustenance in the things, we grew up with which make us who we are today, and that is why the work of Indiaspora is important.
“It’s time to run for office,” Krishnamoorthi, on the other hand, was quoted as saying, “We will be rooting for you and supportive of you. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it matters that you ran for the right reasons so you can serve the community.”
