Indian Americans growing involvement in US politics

The key for us is not to aim for the high federal offices straight away but work our way up, said Aiyer, a Houston, based attorney.

Jay Aiyer, Dilip Nath and Thakar Singh Basati have never met but share a political philosophy -- involvement in local politics. The three are only the latest examples of a growing trend of Indian Americans in the US getting involved in local politics to make a difference where it matters.

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"I believe the Indian American community is now beginning to be quite visible at local political levels. The key for us is not to aim for the high federal offices straight away but work our way up. We must start locally," Aiyer, a Houston, Texas based attorney, told IANS.

Aiyer said he has a simple reason to run for Houston City Council At-Large Position 2 -- "I believe in this city."

"I believe that there is a better way for local government to help move Houston forward. I want to go to City Council to meet these new challenges head-on and continue to reform and improve the way the city does business," he said.

Born in London and raised in Texas, Aiyer is preparing for the November elections. "It is early days but work has begun on my campaign which I hope to win," said Aiyer, who is a Democrat but plans to contest the election in a non-partisan fashion.

In a city of 1.8 million people, of whom Indian Americans account for about 65,000, Aiyer said he wants to run a campaign that focuses on issues that concern everyone. "In a city council election, problems are common to various communities. What affects others, also affects the Indian American community."

Thakar Singh Basati, 52, a community activist will be contesting for the Township Clerk position in Palantine Township, near Chicago, on a Democratic Party ticket. The election will be held on April 5. If he is elected, Basati said he will be the first Asian-American to be elected to a township post.

"There has been no representation of Asian Americans in the township. A lot of money is being spent, but none comes to the Asians," said Basati, who has been a community activist for a long time. If he gets elected it will be a four-year term.

He decided to contest this post after he coordinated the activities of Asian American senior citizens and realised the kind of problems they were having. If elected, Basati's agenda will be to end favouritism.

Basati claimed the township has been a bastion for the Republicans for over 150 years. His involvement in social and cultural activities made the democratic party approach him for the clerk's position. He was the founder president of Punjabi Cultural Society in Palantine. He is also the founder of the Asian Americans Seniors Association in his township.

Basati moved to the US from Chandigarh in India in 1976. He did his BA and B.Sc from Punjab University. After moving here, he worked as a technician in various hospitals till 1995. Since then, he has been a full-time realtor although he still does part-time work as a technician. Basati lives in Palantine with his wife who is a nurse. He has two daughters and a son.

Dilip Nath, a healthcare administrator, is getting ready for the Sep 13 Democratic primary from the 24th District in Queens for the New York City Council.

Nath said he is contesting on purely local issues such as healthcare and zoning.

"Zoning was done 50-60 years ago. We need to evaluate neighbourhoods and upgrade zoning and in some places downgrade it to keep the characteristic of the neighbourhoods alive," said Nath.

The 24th district -- which includes Jamaica, Fresh Meadows, Kew Gardens, Briar Park and Rego Park -- has 51 percent people belonging to the minority community. Of these, 20 percent are South Asians. Of a total of 70,000 voters, 45,000 are registered Democrats.

Nath immigrated to the US when he was 16 after his family was forced to leave Bangladesh. His parents now live in India. He did his undergrad studies in IT and management from State University of New York and an MBA from California Coast University.

He works as a health administrator and is an adjunct professor at Devry Collge in Long Island City.