NetIP announces October’s Event of the Month Winner

Getting involved in the Political Process – A Panel Event, NetSAP DC

On October 26th, NetSAP DC, in conjunction with Indian American Leadership Initiative, Indian American Republican Council, and North American South Asian Bar Association, held a panel event entitled “Getting involved in the Political Process”.  Nearly 150 people attended the standing room only event, in which a variety of south asian panelists discussed their personal stories about being actively involved in politics while staying focused on the unity of Republicans and Democrats for the Indian American community at large.

The following notable panelists attended and fielded questions: Honorable Kumar P. Barve, Maryland House of Delegates Majority Leader (D-17); Samir Mayekar, White House Office of Presidential Personnel; Bhavna Pandit, Indian American Leadership Initiative – Political Director; Anu Rangappa, the Dewey Square Group; Dino Teppara, Indian American Republican Council Chairman; Neena Shenai, American Enterprise Institute; Neil Chatterjee, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Suhail Khan, Institute for Global Engagement.  This event showed that Indian Americans want to make a difference on any level of government (local, State, Federal) and help the United States and its people with its future.  Additionally, it was pointed out that Indian Americans are one of the top ethnic communities that elected officials require in order to succeed, as exhibited by this past Presidential election.

The feedback was very positive and encouraging for young political hopefuls to become engaged in public service and to be a cause for change in the Indian American political arena.  Many attendees were pleased to see both Republicans and Democrats on the same panel in the same room while they set aside economical, social, and geo-political differences to discuss their heritage as Indian Americans first.