There are more than three million Indian-Americans in the US - the third largest Asian community in the country.
Washington:
As election year kicks off in the United States, more and more Indian Americans are getting involved by hosting fund raisers and organising campaigns. But has that translated into political clout?
35-year-old Manisha Sharma moved to the United States when she was 14. Now a banking lawyer, Ms Sharma has, for the first time, dived into the US election campaign.
In July, she organised a grassroots volunteer recruitment event at her Washington home for Democrat Bernie Sanders, where he enjoyed samosas and biryani as he addressed supporters on a webcast.
Mr Sanders has been doing surprisingly well in the polls.
Ms Sharma told NDTV in Washington, "I think my sense of involvement really is not just for the Indian American community although I am a part of it, and I very much want to speak out on issues that matter to us, but I am also an immigrant, and I share a lot of experiences with immigrants from other countries who have come here, and I believe really strongly that I wanted to support a candidate who is good for all minorities, and Bernie is the guy, at least in this coming campaign season who is speaking out for all of us."
There are more than three million Indian-Americans in the US - the third largest Asian community in the country. Many of them are getting actively involved in fund raising and campaigning.
Among them is Neera Tanden - a key advisor to Hillary Clinton's campaign and one of her close friends.
Ms Tanden said, "I've seen the Indian American community get more and more engaged. I personally believe they could do more. I am gratified by the number of people in the Obama administration, we have a number of Indian Americans serving in government, engaged in public service, engaged in political process through fund raising, that is critical."
But many analysts believe Indians have not asserted themselves enough as a group. Senior journalist Seema Sirohi told NDTV, "The problem is can they translate this money and involvement into political clout. This is where the community has not really matured as much it should have by now. In order to get things for the community or for Indo-American relations like H1B visas."
More Indian Americans are running for office - there are already two Governors, Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal, and a Congressman Ami Bera, but there is clearly potential for the community to do a lot more.
35-year-old Manisha Sharma moved to the United States when she was 14. Now a banking lawyer, Ms Sharma has, for the first time, dived into the US election campaign.
In July, she organised a grassroots volunteer recruitment event at her Washington home for Democrat Bernie Sanders, where he enjoyed samosas and biryani as he addressed supporters on a webcast.
Mr Sanders has been doing surprisingly well in the polls.
Ms Sharma told NDTV in Washington, "I think my sense of involvement really is not just for the Indian American community although I am a part of it, and I very much want to speak out on issues that matter to us, but I am also an immigrant, and I share a lot of experiences with immigrants from other countries who have come here, and I believe really strongly that I wanted to support a candidate who is good for all minorities, and Bernie is the guy, at least in this coming campaign season who is speaking out for all of us."
There are more than three million Indian-Americans in the US - the third largest Asian community in the country. Many of them are getting actively involved in fund raising and campaigning.
Among them is Neera Tanden - a key advisor to Hillary Clinton's campaign and one of her close friends.
Ms Tanden said, "I've seen the Indian American community get more and more engaged. I personally believe they could do more. I am gratified by the number of people in the Obama administration, we have a number of Indian Americans serving in government, engaged in public service, engaged in political process through fund raising, that is critical."
But many analysts believe Indians have not asserted themselves enough as a group. Senior journalist Seema Sirohi told NDTV, "The problem is can they translate this money and involvement into political clout. This is where the community has not really matured as much it should have by now. In order to get things for the community or for Indo-American relations like H1B visas."
More Indian Americans are running for office - there are already two Governors, Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal, and a Congressman Ami Bera, but there is clearly potential for the community to do a lot more.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
