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Oct 25, 2025
Viren S Doshi

United in Purpose: Common Stakes of the Indian Americans, United States and India

Overview The United States and India, as the world’s oldest and largest democracies, along with the Indian American diaspora (over 4.8 million), share a powerful alignment of interests rooted in democratic values, faith, family and national pride. Indo-American strategic partnership is almost synonymous with East-West relationship; with historical roots in the pursuits of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Swami Vivekananda, Martin Luther King Jr and many other luminaries. It has been further strengthened since the early 2000s through milestones like the 2008 U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. This partnership is driven by shared commitments for countering anti-democratic forces — specifically, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-occupied China and exclusivist ideologies such as communism, jihadism, globalism, wokeism, leftism, colonialism, racism and supremacism; which threaten the democratic principles and societal cohesion across the globe. Both nations prioritise their national interests through America First and India First policies, emphasising sovereignty, self-reliance, and cultural integrity, while fostering human values across the globe. The Indian American diaspora serves as a vital bridge, amplifying these efforts through cultural, economic, and political influence; with diaspora organisations actively enhancing collaboration and countering common foes. This article comprehensively explores the thematically categorised common interests with clear explanations and a focus on the democratic alignment, while underlining common concerns about leftist and wokeist agendas. 1. Geopolitical and Security Cooperation The United States, India and Indian Americans are on common ground in safeguarding democracy against external and exclusivist ideological threats, particularly from CCP-occupied China and anti-democratic forces. Countering CCP-Occupied China’s Influence Both the nations prioritise balancing the aggressively expansionist neocolonial policies of CCP-occupied China, which promotes authoritarianism in contrast to the democratic systems and which has monopolised critical supply chains, processes and resources. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), comprising the U.S., India, Japan and Australia, fosters deterrence through joint military exercises like Malabar and economic initiatives to secure Indo-Pacific trade routes, vital for 60% of global maritime trade. The America First policy underpins U.S. efforts to prioritise national security and economic independence, while India’s India First approach, exemplified by initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), emphasises strategic autonomy; both these independent missions are vigorously attempting to diversify supply chains and decouple from the monopoly of CCP-occupied China. Indian Americans, through organisations like - The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISP Forum), which strengthens bilateral ties through policy and economic collaboration, The United States-India Relationship Council (USIRC), a registered Political Action Committee (PAC), promotes U.S.-India relations based on common values, the U.S.-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), and many other organisations like FIIDS lobby for policies to position India as a democratic nation, a counterweight to the CCP. Counter-Terrorism and Non-Proliferation As democracies, the U.S. and India share a commitment to combating terrorism and preventing nuclear proliferation, threats often linked to anti-democratic actors. Post the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, bilateral intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism training have targeted groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. India contributes border security expertise, while the U.S. has advanced surveillance technology addressing diabolical terrorist movements. Indian Americans actively lobby for anti-terrorism initiatives. There is massive support for India’s bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat, amplifying democratic voices in global governance. On the other hand, leftists and wokeists have attempted to use the concept of Transnational Repression — a term referring to state efforts to suppress dissent beyond borders — as a facade to criticise nationalist protective measures. For instance, leftist critiques of India’s counter-terrorism laws or U.S. surveillance programs often misinterpret these as overreaches, ignoring their role in countering jihadi and other terrorist threats. Stakeholders counter this by emphasising transparent, democratic oversight, with Indian Americans advocating through groups to ensure nationalist efforts are not misconstrued. Leftists have also used caste as a weapon against India and Indian Americans. Diaspora organisations have actively and successfully lobbied to counter these leftist tactics. Countering Anti-Democratic Ideologies (Communists, Jihadis, Globalists, Wokeists, Leftists, Colonialists, Racists, Supremacists) The U.S., India, and Indian Americans align in defending their democratic values — centred on faith (e.g., Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism), family structures, and national pride — against exclusivist ideologies perceived as anti-democratic. These include: Communism: The CCP’s authoritarian model threatens democratic freedoms; India’s historical fights with communist movements (e.g., Naxalism) align with U.S. anti-communist policies. Jihadism: Violent extremist groups like ISIS or Al-Qaeda undermine pluralism; U.S.-India intelligence-sharing and India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act target these threats. Globalism: Globalist agendas, eroding national sovereignty, are resisted by America First and India First policies emphasising self-reliance (e.g., Atmanirbhar Bharat). Wokeism: These ideologies overemphasise identity politics, cancel culture and challenge traditional norms, potentially fracturing societal cohesion. Leftism: Radical leftist ideologies, when active as anti-national or anti-family forces, are countered by both nations’ mainstream democratic actors based on human values. Colonialism, Racism, Supremacism: Historical colonial legacies and ongoing racial or supremacist exclusivist ideologies are opposed through both nations’ historical saga of anti-colonial freedom struggles and unflinching commitment to democracy, equality and pluralism. Indian Americans, via organisations like the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), APNADB and Americans4Hindus, advocate for policies protecting cultural heritage and resisting divisive narratives misusing caste as a faultline. Such divisive and repressive bills in California and similar narratives in U.S. educational curricula (e.g., California’s ethnic studies debates) that misrepresent Indian culture or promote polarisation are vigorously countered. Defence Trade and Interoperability Bilateral defence trade, growing from near-zero in 2008 to over $20 billion by 2020, includes U.S. sales of helicopters, strengthening India’s democratic defence against authoritarian threats. Indian Americans advocate for streamlined exports, ensuring interoperability through exercises like Malabar, which aligns with America First and India First by prioritising the national security of both nations. Freedom of Navigation and Regional Balance Protecting Indo-Pacific Sea lanes ensures energy security and trade, critical for democratic economies. Joint naval exercises reinforce this; Indian Americans support U.S.-India ties, which act as a bulwark to secure supply chains against CCP disruptions. 2. Economic Growth and Trade Economic synergistic interdependence strengthens democratic resilience, with the diaspora driving investment and innovation under America First and India First frameworks. Bilateral Trade and Investment Growth The U.S. and India aim to double trade to $500 billion by 2030, with U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in India exceeding $13.6 billion in manufacturing and services, and Indian investment in US is also on the rise. The USISP Forum, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and others foster business collaborations and policy dialogues to enhance trade. Indian Americans, owning one-third of immigrant-founded U.S. startups, facilitate investments fostering prosperity. Global Value Chains and Supply Chain Resilience Reducing reliance on CCP-occupied China’s authoritarian supply chains is a priority under America First and India First. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), covering 40% of global GDP, promotes resilient supply chains for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Indian Americans in Silicon Valley drive technology initiatives. India’s "Make in India" initiative and the U.S. job creation initiative reinforce democratic economic models. Energy Security and Clean Energy Collaboration on renewables, clean coal, and nuclear energy (post-2008 Civil Nuclear Agreement, I2U2) supports energy independence from authoritarian regimes. The U.S.-India Roadmap for Clean Supply Chains advances solar energy and electric vehicle (EV) innovation. Indian American entrepreneurs align with India’s net-zero goals and U.S. climate leadership. 3. Technology and Innovation High-tech collaboration leverages India’s talent and the diaspora’s expertise, countering authoritarian tech dominance while prioritising national interests. Emerging Technologies (AI, Semiconductors, Quantum) The Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) fosters joint research in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and quantum computing. The U.S.-India-South Korea Trilateral ensures secure supply chains, countering CCP-controlled tech markets. Indian American leaders advocate for enabling talent flow, bolstering democratised innovation. Space and Cybersecurity Projects like the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite and cybersecurity pacts protect democratic infrastructure. The U.S. and India are both part of the Artemis Agreement for orderly space activities. Indian Americans stand for space tech collaboration, countering cyber threats from authoritarian states, consistent with national priorities. Digital Economy and Biotech The Bio-5 Consortium strengthens pharmaceutical supply chains, while AI governance ensures ethical innovation. Indian Americans in biotech advocate for U.S.-India frameworks against synthetic opioids, aligning health security with democratic values. 4. Democratic Values and Global Governance As leading democracies, the U.S. and India champion pluralism and multilateralism, resisting anti-democratic ideologies. Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights Both nations advocate for a rules-based global order, with the U.S. supporting India’s UN Security Council bid. Indian Americans promote cultural exchanges and counter misinformation, resisting anti-democratic narratives like wokeism or globalism that challenge open discourse. Despite generational divides on domestic policies, the diaspora reinforces democratic principles aligned with national pride. Global Health and Humanitarian Aid Collaboration on pandemics (e.g., COVID-19 medicines and vaccines) and disaster relief (e.g., 2004 tsunami) strengthens global democratic resilience. Indian American and other American philanthropists fund U.S.-India health initiatives, fostering trust between the two peoples and the two nations. 5. Cultural, Educational, and People-to-People Ties The diaspora bridges cultural ties, rooted in faith, family, and national pride, countering anti-democratic ideologies while upholding national interests. Education and Student Exchanges Over 200,000 Indian students study in U.S. universities, supported by the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum. Stakeholders have been emphasising family-driven education rooted in cultural values. Leftists and Wokeists challenge this by promoting gender-divisive agendas, such as twisted curricula emphasising non-traditional gender identities or questioning family structures, diabolically trying to undermine traditional values central to both U.S. and Indian societies. Stakeholders counter this through advocacy for balanced education policies: India’s National Education Policy 2020 promotes value-based education, and the U.S. sees conservative pushback. Indian Americans, through groups like HAF, Americans4Hindus, APNADB and CoHNA, challenge misrepresentations in educational content (e.g., California textbook controversies) to preserve a cultural and family-oriented value system. Diaspora Engagement and Soft Power Indian Americans not only pay a good amount of taxes to the Treasury but also send remittances to India. A recent study by Daniel Di Martino of the Manhattan Institute claims that Indian Americans are the best among the various immigrant communities. They are not a burden on the American Economy; rather they are the best asset for the American Economy as well as the American nation. (For downloading or reading the report, click on this link - https://manhattan.institute/article/the-fiscal-impact-of-immigration-2025-update) The Manhattan Institute report advocates to the Trump Administration for immigration reforms with recommendations to promote immigrants from India. Indian Americans organise cultural events celebrating faith-based traditions. Groups like CoHNA advocate for cultural preservation, countering threats to family values from radical ideologies. Leftists and Wokeists are seen to promote identity politics—emphasising caste, race, and skin colour divides—to fracture societal cohesion, such as through narratives that overemphasise historical grievances or inequities. Stakeholders counter this malicious agenda by promoting unity: India’s "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" fosters national integration, the U.S. supports community-based inclusivity, and Indian Americans, via organisations like the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), advocate for policies highlighting shared democratic values over divisive identity politics. The political influence of diaspora, with over a dozen Indian-origin candidates and many other candidates publicly taking a pro-India-US-relationship stance in U.S. elections, is becoming increasingly visible. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Diaspora-founded firms boost U.S. GDP and support India’s startup boom. FIIDS promotes pluralism, faith, and opportunity, aligning with America First and India First resistance to divisive ideologies like wokeism or leftism that challenge entrepreneurial freedom and cultural values. Conclusion The United States, India, and Indian Americans together stand for a formidable democratic alliance, united against CCP-occupied China and anti-democratic exclusivist ideologies — communism, jihadism, globalism, wokeism, leftism, colonialism, racism, and supremacism — that threaten faith, family, and nation. Their partnership, rooted in America First and India First principles, is reinforced by economic, technological, and cultural collaboration, with the diaspora’s influence through groups like the USISPF, USIRC, and many others. Indian Americans are taught through their culture to respect as much the land of Karma (U.S.) as the land of birth (India). Initiatives like the U.S.-India Comprehensive Partnership for Advancing Critical Technologies (COMPACT) underscore this alignment. By countering leftist and wokeist agendas in education, societal cohesion, and security — such as gender-divisive curricula, identity politics, and misuse of terms like Transnational Repression — these stakeholders ensure a resilient alliance shaping a stable, pluralistic global future.

Oct 23, 2025
Rudra Dubey

Bhojpuri’s Cultural Renaissance: From PM Modi’s Words to Manoj Bhawuk’s Poetry and Songs

Bhojpuri, one of India’s oldest and most expressive languages, stands today at a historic crossroads—where heritage meets modern revival, and folk soul meets cinematic creativity. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s impassioned speeches in Bhojpuri to the lyrical artistry of journalist–poet Manoj Bhawuk, the language’s story is one of pride, perseverance, and poetic identity. It also strengthens the growing call for Bhojpuri’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution — a recognition long overdue. PM Modi’s Support for Bhojpuri Culture and Language Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently honoured India’s regional languages as the carriers of cultural continuity — and among them, Bhojpuri holds a special place. During his addresses in Varanasi, Siddharthnagar, and Mauritius, Modi has often chosen to speak in Bhojpuri, connecting directly with millions of native speakers in India and across the global diaspora. At his Mauritius address to the Bhojpuri-speaking community, Modi began warmly: “Hum raur sabke dekhi ke bahut khusi baani…” — a moment that echoed through the hearts of those whose ancestors carried the language overseas. He praised the community for keeping Bhojpuri geet, folk dance, and Chhath Puja alive on foreign soil, calling them “living ambassadors of Indian culture.” In a major cultural assurance, PM Modi also declared that the Government of India will fully support efforts to have the sacred festival of Chhath Puja included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. This assurance has been welcomed across the Bhojpuri-speaking belt as a recognition of one of India’s oldest sun-worship traditions, symbolising gratitude, purity, and the power of women in cultural preservation. Such gestures from the Prime Minister reaffirm that Bhojpuri is not merely a regional dialect — it is a civilisational language that connects continents, communities, and centuries. Bhojpuri: A Living Language of History and Heart Bhojpuri descends from Magadhi Prakrit, evolving through centuries of devotion, storytelling, and folk performance. Its early corpus — epics like Lorikayan and Birjabh, and oral traditions like Kajari and Purbiya — reflects the wisdom, valour, and humour of the people. Even without constitutional status, Bhojpuri thrives as a pan-Indian and global cultural bridge. It is spoken by over 50 million people in India, and by millions more in Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Trinidad, Guyana, and Nepal — making it one of the most widely spoken Indian-origin languages in the world. Manoj Bhawuk: The Indispensable Voice of Modern Bhojpuri Literature, Music and Movie At the heart of this renaissance stands Manoj Bhawuk — a journalist, poet, editor, and one of the most respected voices in Bhojpuri literature and cinema. He has written all the songs for the new Bhojpuri film “Aapan Kahaye Wala Ke Ba”, marking a rare instance of a litterateur shaping a full musical narrative for a film. The history of Bhojpuri cinema reveals a clear truth — whenever great writers have penned its songs, both the lyrics and the films have turned into milestones. From Shailendra and Majrooh in Hindi to Bhojpuri stalwarts like Moti B.A., Laxman Shahabadi, Bholanath Ghamari, Umakant Verma, and Ramnath Pathak Pranayi, the contribution of poets has defined the industry’s identity. Now, Manoj Bhawuk continues that lineage. The film “Aapan Kahaye Wala Ke Ba”, directed by Rajnish Mishra, is a family drama that heals emotional rifts through music and storytelling. Songs like “Bhauji Jab Khisiyali Badi Kada Lageli…” and “Dhaan Kutaye Lagal, Hardi Kunchaye Lagal…”, sung by Priyanka Singh, are already popular at family events and weddings. The title track carries emotional depth, while the Ladies Sangeet song promotes the theme of “Chhoti Parivar, Sukhi Parivar.” The Bhawuk–Rajnish duo earlier created history with the song “Tor Baurahwa Re Mai” in Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna, reviving memories of Bhojpuri cinema’s golden musical era. Manoj Bhawuk’s literary footprint extends beyond cinema. He is the author of Bhojpuri Cinema Ke Sansar — regarded as the definitive history of Bhojpuri cinema — and collections like Tasveer Zindagi Ke and Chalni Mein Paani. He has been honoured by Filmfare, Femina, Delhi Press, and Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad, and has received both the Rajya Gaurav Samman from the Governor of Bihar and the Bharatiya Bhasha Samman 2025. A multifaceted creative mind, Bhawuk worked for over a decade as an engineer in Africa and the UK before turning full-time to media and art. He has held senior roles in Indian television, including project head of Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa (regional), and is currently Editor of Bhojpuri Junction, Director of Achievers Junction, and a member of the Government of India’s expert committee for Chhath’s UNESCO nomination. He also serves as a jury member for film festivals and an academic advisor on Bhojpuri courses in universities. The strength of Bhojpuri culture lies in its ability to express profound truths through simplicity — whether in Bhikhari Thakur’s plays, Sharda Sinha’s Chhath songs, or modern Bhojpuri films. Its literature, music, and cinema remain intertwined, giving the community a shared sense of belonging and continuity. Films like Aapan Kahaye Wala Ke Ba demonstrate that Bhojpuri creativity is evolving beyond clichés — offering quality music, emotion-driven narratives, and linguistic pride. It is this intersection of language, art, and social conscience that makes Bhojpuri one of India’s most dynamic cultural movements today. With Prime Minister Modi’s assurance on Chhath Puja’s UNESCO recognition, and cultural leaders like Manoj Bhawuk breathing fresh life into Bhojpuri music and cinema, the Bhojpuri language stands at the dawn of a new era. The call for Bhojpuri’s inclusion in the Eighth Schedule and inclusion of Chhath festival in UNESCO heritage is not a demand — it is a rightful acknowledgement of a civilisation that sings through its people. Bhojpuri is not just a regional language; it is the rhythm of India’s heartland — a bridge between the Ganga’s banks and the world beyond.

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