Kapil Sharma / Kapil Sharma via LinkedIn

Celebrating the rise of Indian Americans is not enough, policy strategist Kapil Sharma said June 23, warning that divisions within the community could undermine its growing influence in Washington unless it mobilises behind a common agenda.

Speaking at a Capitol Hill event organised by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), Sharma said the Indian-American community had achieved extraordinary success in business, education and public life but had yet to fully convert that success into sustained political influence.

Sharma, Senior Lead at the Global India Collective and a long-time advocate of stronger India-US ties, reflected on more than three decades of engagement with policymakers and lawmakers in Washington.

“When I started working on the US-India relationship for more than 30 years,” he said, discussions largely centred on domestic concerns affecting Indian Americans rather than the broad strategic partnership that dominates the relationship today.

In his thought-provoking remarks, Sharma recalled how the community came together during critical moments, including efforts to respond to US sanctions following India's 1998 nuclear tests and support for the landmark India-US civil nuclear agreement.

“The community got excited, and community rallied, and worked together,” Sharma said.

Those moments, he argued, demonstrated the political potential of a community that was still relatively small but increasingly influential.

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However, Sharma said that the unity that once helped drive major policy achievements has weakened over time.

“That momentum was lost,” he said.

He pointed to growing political divisions and a decline in collective advocacy, warning that the community risks diluting its influence at a time when both India and Indian Americans occupy a more prominent place in American politics than ever before.

“How do you translate that human power or that voice to what you're trying to do here today?” Sharma asked.

“If we can't unify, if we can't come together, we can't amplify the strength of that voice.”

The warning comes as Indian Americans continue to gain visibility in US politics, with members serving in Congress, state legislatures and senior positions across government, business and academia.

Sharma acknowledged those gains but cautioned against complacency.

“We should be proud of how far we've come,” he said.

Yet he argued that the community's growing success should not obscure the challenges that remain.

“We have six congressmen,” Sharma said, referring to Indian-American members of Congress. “We're going to have possibly only four by the end of this year. Is that something we should be proud of? I would say no.”

He said the focus should now be on expanding political representation rather than merely celebrating existing achievements.

“Let's not fall back this year,” he said.

“Let's make sure our people stay in Congress. Let's make sure we expand the base. Let's make sure we get more people elected this year.”

Throughout his remarks, Sharma repeatedly returned to the idea that influence in Washington requires organisation, accountability and sustained civic engagement.

“It's good to talk about the US-India relationship,” he said. “It's good.”

But he argued that policy discussions and conferences alone would not produce results.

“It's more than just putting a piece of paper together,” Sharma said. “It's about amplifying your voice.”

He also urged Indian Americans to defend elected officials and community leaders when they face what he described as unfair criticism or politically motivated attacks.

“So if somebody comes after Raja or Suhas or Shri or any of our members of Congress or any of our state legislators, and they make baseless claims, or they try to hound them from the seat, then there should be consequences too,” he said.

Sharma challenged the audience to think beyond symbolic representation and focus instead on building long-term political influence.

“What has India caucus done in the last 15 years?” he asked, urging community members to demand measurable outcomes from elected officials and advocacy organisations alike.

He also highlighted the growing pipeline of Indian-American political leaders, pointing to dozens of state legislators who are expected to gather next month at a leadership conference in Chicago.

“Let's make sure those 55 stay, we expand and we double it,” Sharma said.

According to Sharma, expanding political participation and strengthening community unity will be critical if Indian Americans hope to shape policy debates on immigration, trade, education and the future of India-US relations.

“That's how we're going to show that our voices matter,” he said.

His remarks stood out at a gathering otherwise focused on the expanding strategic partnership between India and the United States. While lawmakers and diplomats highlighted progress in trade, defence and technology cooperation, Sharma's message focused squarely on the diaspora itself and the need for greater political mobilisation. 

Indian Americans today number more than five million and are among the most educated and economically successful communities in the United States. They have become increasingly visible in public life, with growing representation in Congress, state legislatures, corporate leadership and academia. 

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