Dr Sampat Shivangi is the national president of the Indian American Forum for Political Education. / Courtesy Photo

Indian-American community leader and physician Dr Sampat Shivangi has been elected as an official delegate for the upcoming Republican National Convention. The event will take place at the Fisher Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July.13 to July.19.

A conservative lifelong member of the Republican Party, Dr Shivangi, who is the founding member of the Republican Indian Council and the Republican Indian National Council, said “This will be my sixth time serving as a National Delegate at the Republican National Convention to nominate the Republican Party nominee to contest the national presidential election."

He continued: “My nomination began as early as when President George W Bush was nominated in New York, then-Senator George McCain, Governor Mitt Romney, and President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. Now again to re-elect President Donald Trump in 2024 in Milwaukee.”

Dr Shivangi said this honor was a unique “opportunity for an Indian-American to represent the community at the national level."

Dr Shivangi is the national president of the Indian American Forum for Political Education, one of the oldest Indian American associations. He has spent the past three decades lobbying for various bills in the US Congress on behalf of India through his extensive network of contacts with US Senators and Congressmen.

As a close friend of the Bush family, Shivangi played a key role in lobbying for the first Diwali celebration at the White House and for President George W Bush's visit to India. He also accompanied President Bill Clinton during his historic trip to India.

Dr Shivangi has been a fervent advocate for the India Civil Nuclear Treaty and, more recently, the US-India Defense Treaty, which was passed by the US Congress and signed by President Obama.

Shivangi has been actively engaged in numerous philanthropic activities, including his work with the Blind Foundation of MS and the Diabetic, Cancer, and Heart Associations of America. He has also initiated several philanthropic projects in India, such as establishing primary and middle schools, a cultural center, and IMA Centers. Additionally, he helped secure the first-ever US Congressional grant for AAPI to study diabetes mellitus among Indian Americans.

Dr Shivangi received the highest civilian honor, the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Sanman Award, in 2016 from former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. He was also awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York.

Additionally, Shivangi was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indo-American Press Club during the 9th annual International Media Conference in Stamford.

“I look forward to this great convention where the Republican Vice President nominee will speak and President Trump will speak,” Dr Shivangi said. “I am sure it will be a great convention and I wish to thank the GOP for the courtesy and honor of the invitation as a National Delegate of the Republican Party at the 2024 National Convention.”