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Hindu Americans laud Trump as "pro-Hindu" leader at historic gala
Hosted by the American Hindu Coalition (AHC) in collaboration with the Latino American Coalition on Jan.19, the event underscored the Hindu American community’s growing political presence and recognition of Trump as a leader supporting Hindu values.
Hindu Americans / Image- NIA
Ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, Hindu Americans gathered at the first-ever Presidential Inauguration Hindu Gala, to express their support and admiration for Trump, calling him a “pro-Hindu” leader.
Hosted by the American Hindu Coalition (AHC) in collaboration with the Latino American Coalition on Jan.19, the event underscored the Hindu American community’s growing political presence and recognition of Trump as a leader supporting Hindu values.
Shoba Chokkalingam, a key organizer of the gala and a prominent figure in the AHC, called the event a historic moment. “We, Indo-Americans, are about 5 to 6 million in America, forming about 1 percent of the population. And we’ve been very actively campaigning for President Trump, and we’re very glad that he’s the president, taking over the mantle of the free world tomorrow,” she said.
She also praised Trump for his outreach to Hindu Americans, including celebrating Diwali at Mar-a-Lago and expressing support for the establishment of a Hindu Holocaust memorial in Washington D.C. She also shared her personal connection with the President, recalling a phone conversation during which Trump assured her of his support for the Hindu community.
Attendees from across the nation expressed their pride and optimism. Ashok Bhatti attending the gala from Michigan described the gathering as a reflection of the Hindu community’s progress. “This is definitely a moment of pride. There has been almost representation from more than 12 states this time,” he said.
"President Trump has been vocally pro-Hindu and we believe at least the expectation from our community is Prime Minister Modi and President Trump are going to have a better cordial relationship and improve the trade, improve, maybe solve the H1B problems, solve the green card issues that our community faces and other issues that the community faces," Bhatti added.
Virginia resident Narasimha Puppala emphasized the contributions of Hindu Americans across various fields. “Even though we are 1 percent of the population, contributions are much more. Hindus can contribute a lot from cultural point of view, economical point of view, healthcare point of view,” he said.
Puppala praised the increasing representation of Hindu Americans in important political roles, asserting, “Having many Hindu Americans in important cabinet positions shows the arrival of Hindus.”
Priya Pandit of the Hindu American Foundation said, “We are a very, very powerful and strong minority in this country with lots of power, with lots of purpose. And it’s very important to be proud of who we are to make sure that this new administration and all administrations after that really understand our society and the group as a whole.”
Democratic Congressman from Michigan, Shri Thanedar, one of four Hindu Americans currently serving in Congress who also attended the event, highlighted the significance of the event for the community. “It signifies that Hindus in America have arrived. You know, Hindu community is being on the top in terms of information technology, in terms of higher technology, businesses, academia. But in politics, Hindus haven’t participated as much. Now we have four Hindu Americans in the U.S. Congress, which is a big feat,” he said.
Thanedar emphasized the importance of unity and diversity in America, referencing the Hindu Gala’s alignment with other cultural events, such as the Latino Ball. “There is power in this unity,” he said while expressing his commitment to address key issues such as combating hate crimes, and promoting religious freedom, with bipartisan collaboration through the Hindu Caucus in the 119th Congress.
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