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Empowering communities, transforming politics: The journey of Ajay Jain Bhutoria from Assam to America
The Indian American, who came to the U.S. with two suitcases in hand was instrumental in bringing Biden-Harris administration to power
Ajay with President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden / Image - Supplied
Ajay Jain Bhutoria was born in Rajasthan and raised in Assam, India, where most of his early education unfolded. He was academically brilliant and ranked among the top 20 students in his board exams within Assam. After high school, he pursued a degree in chemical engineering. And subsequently, after spending some time working in India, he relocated to the United States to pursue an MBA. He worked with companies like Price Waterhouse and IBM, focusing on IT, technology, and HR processes and system transformations for multinationals.
But life took an interesting turn when he met President Obama for the first time in San Francisco. This exciting encounter got him deeply involved in the Democratic Party and over time he began to engage in fundraising activities. His growing involvement made him acquaintances with prominent figures, including the then Vice President and the First Lady, and he participated in initiatives like the free community college program.
During Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, the Indian-American entrepreneur served as a co-chair on the AAPI National Finance Committee, actively participating in campaign related activities. Reminiscing that period, Ajay notes, “Hosting President Clinton at my home remains one of my most cherished memories.” Even though the former First Lady, Hilary Clinton, lost the elections, Ajay’s political involvement grew stronger and deeper.
Ajay posing alongside former American President, Barack Obama / SuppliedWhen the next presidential elections approached, confident of the then Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s leadership, he began campaigning from day one and took innovative steps to ensure high voter turnout. From generating and disseminating campaigns in 19 different languages to producing Bollywood-style music videos to attract South Asian and Asian American voters to harnessing the power of phone banking – Ajay’s strategies were instrumental in bringing Biden-Harris administration to power.
Anyone curious about how he came up with such attention-grabbing strategies must know that Ajay's deep-rooted Indian heritage played an essential role in enriching his understanding of what engages and captivates people. "Food, music, and culture - all are powerful connectors,” says the political strategist. “For example, with the help of some friends who are Bollywood singers, we recreated popular Indian songs into catchy videos to motivate people to vote. In no time, these videos quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of views and were incredibly well-received," he explains further.
When asked about his view of POTUS and the reasons for his unflinching support, Ajay explains, "President Biden strongly focuses on uniting people. His presidency is far more inclusive in its immigration policies. There's a substantial decrease in hate crimes, particularly against Asian Americans. There's a notable decline in unemployment. He has ensured that the U.S. boosts its domestic manufacturing capabilities, particularly in chip and semiconductor production. He has taken steps to lower healthcare costs. We are far better aligned in terms of international diplomacy, stronger US-India relationships and have been instrumental in resolving global conflicts such as playing pivotal role in the recent release of hostages in the Israel-Palestine conflict or supporting Ukraine amidst its challenges. I feel Biden Presidency has positively contributed to restoring the soul of the United States.”
Looking at the success and recognition Ajay has earned in all these years, it's surprising to many that his journey to the US started with two suitcases in hand, something that he often shares humorously with his children. The formative years in the States were particularly unsettling for him as he encountered uncertainty regarding his stay there, visa extensions, and the renewal process. Somehow, he chugged along, but this phase greatly impacted Ajay.
Ajay meeting Prime Minister Modi at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum event / Supplied
After he was appointed by President Biden as an advisor to the Asian American Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian Commission (AAPI and NHPI Commission) following his administration's inception, he dedicated himself to resolving immigration challenges experienced by numerous Indian and Asian immigrants. He even proposed a solution to tackle the significant dilemma H-1B visa holders face with the domestic renewal of visa stamping, EAD for approved I140 holders, and ensuring steps to reduce green card backlog wait times.
Ajay is also on the Economic Subcommittee, and his recommendation has led to the White House launching the White House Economic Summit to assist AAPI small businesses in their growth - this involves facilitating their access to federal grants, loans, and contracts. Ajay is also serving his fourth year as Deputy National Finance chair for the Democratic Party in the US.
Today, a resident of Fremont, California, Ajay is immensely grateful for his journey and the opportunities he got along the way. He has co-founded one of the largest radio stations in the US, Radio Zindagi. He has been involved in educational initiatives like the Young Leadership Academy, which provided leadership training to young people. For the last ten years, he has committed to providing hot meals to the needy and homeless in his community every weekend. He has also authored a book that offers life management tools for a happy life.
Ajay with his wife at the White House Holiday party / SuppliedHe proudly notes, "Our life's purpose is to find happiness, spread joy to others, and aid those in need. Drawing inspiration from my interactions with Jain Monks and Buddhist monks, including time spent with the reverend Dalai Lama, I am motivated to explore how we all can maintain happiness in a state of flux, how we can live more in the moment and extend gratitude to everything that comes our way. How we can build meaningful relationships – all of this more you will find in my book.”
Ajay is currently working at the Democratic National Committee's campaign, focusing his efforts on supporting the re-election of the Biden-Harris government for the 2024 presidential elections. His work involves various aspects of campaign strategy and execution within the political party's framework.
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