Indians in USA -- A Success Story


Date: Mon, 31 Oct 94 10:49:55 -0600
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Subject: [SPHS:78] Indians in America
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 The U.S. Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans issued
 the following statement on October 25, 1994, regarding the economic
 and political power of the Indian-Americans:

      "Growing economically at a pace matched by only one other
 Asian group, Indians living in America now earn more than any other
 ethnic community in the United States and hence are positioned to
 exercise unprecedented political influence in the upcoming
 elections.
      Reacting to data produced by the U.S. Census Bureau,
 Democratic Representative Frank Pallone Jr., of New Jersey, the
 head of the 41-member Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-
 Americans said" These figures confirm what we empirically know
 about Indians in America. They generally are well-educated, hard
 working and at an advantage because they speak English."
      "As dispersed as they are," Pallone added, Asian Americans
 remain sufficiently concentrated so they can have a real impact on
 certain Congressional elections. At the same time, Indians have a
 great interest in politics and their impact is likely to reflect
 their numbers because they are generous in supporting causes they
 believe in."
      Analysis of data developed by the Census Bureau shows that
 there currently more than 1 million Asian Indians in America.
 Between 1980 and 1990, the community grew by 125.6 percent. The
 Vietnamese community, which is only three quarters the size, grew
 by 134 percent during the same period.
      With a mean family income of $59,777, the highest of any Asian
 group in America, and with an average per capita income that is
 more than 25 percent higher than the national average and second
 only to Japanese Americans among all ethnic groups, Asian Indians'
 economic power in America is indisputable. In 1980, Asian Indians
 lagged behind both the Japanese and Filipinos in median household
 income.
      Further analysis of census data shows where Asian Indians'
 economic power is most likely to be employed politically. While the
 ethnic group is widely dispersed in America, there are populations
 in excess of 50,000 in five states: California, New York, Illinois,
 Texas and New Jersey.
      A closer look shows significant Asian Indian populations
 residing in the following metropolitan areas:

      Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA                       16,549
      Chicago-Gary-Lake Country, IL                   59,046
      Dallas, Ft. Worth, TX                           17,831
      Detroit-Ann Arbor, MI                           18,509
      Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX                  26,559
      Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside, CA               68,887
      New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY   199,010
      Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton                 26,120
      San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA               35,533

      In the realm of education, the Census Bureau data shows that
 87.5 percent of Asian Indians in America have completed high school
 with 62 percent having some college education. More than 58 percent
 hold Bachelor or higher degrees, which is the highest percentage
 among all Asian-American ethnic groups.
      "With this high level of education, Indians in America have a
 strong awareness of the manner in which political issues affect the
 quality of their lives," Pallone said.
      Census data shows that 14 percent of Asian Americans in
 America are engaged in work related to science, medicine,
 engineering, and technology. Significant percentage (19.3 percent)
 also can be found in managerial, administrative, sales and teaching
 positions. In fact, more than 5,000 Asian Indians currently are
 faculty members at American universities.
      "The contributions of Asian Indians are enormous," said
 Devendra Singh, Minister for Community affairs at the Indian
 Embassy in Washington, noting that two Indian Americans - Har
 Gobind Khorana of the M.I.T. and Subramanyam Chandrashekhar of the
 University of Chicago - have been awarded Nobel prizes, in medicine
 and physics, respectively.
      In certain select industries, Asian Indians have had a
 particularly notable impact. It is estimated, for instance, that
 about 25 percent of all small hotels and motels in America are
 owned by Indian-Americans. At the same time, Asian Indians are now
 significant players in the world of computer software and in
 certain sectors of California's farm economy.
      In the realm of politics, Asian Indians are playing an
 increasing role in America. A number of American cities and towns,
 including Teaneck, NJ, Hollywood Park, TX, and Burien, Wash., have
 elected people of Asian American descent as mayors. A number of
 Indians have also become prominent at a national level. Among those
 currently serving in the Clinton Administration are the following:
 Dr. Dharmendra K. Sharma, Administrator, Department of
 Transportation, Ms. Arati Prabhakar, Director, National Institute
 of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce; and Ms. Preeta
 Bansal, counselor in the Office of the White House Counsel.
      The increasing political activism of Asian Indians in America
 comes out of a community that is very much centered on the family.
 Only 4.5 percent of Indian-Americans households have no husband
 present, and only 1.3 percent Indian-Americans households are
 headed by an unmarried couple.
      In summing of the recent findings from the Census Bureau,
 Singh said: "Indians in the United States are quite a success
 story. They are contributing on a level few other ethnic
 communities have reached. They not only are educated but educating.
 They work hard, believe in family values, are committed to their
 children's future, and are making significant contributions
 economically as well."