Indian-Americans caught in crossfire as US political divide deepens

Indian-Americans, numbering over four million in the United States, occupy an increasingly precarious position within American politics, facing indifference from both major political parties despite their growing numbers and influence. The community's apparent invisibility in current political calculations stands in stark contrast to the ideals articulated over a century ago by Swami Vivekananda, who famously represented India at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago, advocating principles of religious tolerance and mutual respect that resonated globally.

Historically, Indian-Americans have built substantial economic and social presence across technology, medicine, business and academia. Yet contemporary political discourse in the United States has increasingly marginalized the community's voice, with neither Republican nor Democratic strategists prioritizing Indian-American concerns in their policy platforms or campaign messaging.

This political neglect occurs against a backdrop of rising incidents affecting the community, from workplace discrimination to hate crimes, matters that receive limited attention in mainstream American political debate. The community's largely professional, educated demographic profile has not translated into proportional political representation or advocacy at national levels.

Analysts suggest the indifference reflects a troubling trend in which minority communities face political relevance only when strategically convenient, contradicting foundational American values of inclusive democracy and pluralistic society that Indian-American pioneers like Vivekananda once championed on American soil.