How do you think the Indian American generation of today can contribute to India

and the world at large?

As immigrants from India, my parents faced a culture shock coming to the
United States. From food and movies to a shift in values, life became quite different
for us. My parents kept pestering me at the time to work hard, because thats why
we were here. Thus, for me and my Indian-American brothers and sisters, the
discipline, ethical values and our dharma that our scriptures teach were married
with the American identity one of opportunity, freedom, and independence. Our
generation faces a unique advantage, and we must make use of it to contribute not
only to India, but the aid the challenges the world faces as a whole.
In order to make a difference in the world, we must first start off with
shaping ourselves. For centuries, the east has been known for its wisdom for selfrealization and the ability to calm the mind and body. Sages and Mystics of the past
centuries like Kabir, Guru Nanak, and Ravidas, preached the importance of
meditation and looking inwards in our faith. These saints believed in inversion, as
opposed to conversion, as they encouraged people to look within their own faiths to
find inner peace. We must spread that message. In a time in the world where
religious wars mar the world in places like Iraq and Syria, we must be the force of
unity, oneness, and peace. That can only come if we delve in our own scriptures and
form an identity, unifying under a universal message. This unique identity defines
who we are, and we must help to lead by example, living a ethical life and following
our dharma as individuals to facilitate a different era.
For the most part, it can be agreed that our generation has been exposed to
both ends of the socioeconomic scale. Regardless of their own position, most IndianAmericans have witnessed the rampant poverty in slums and the rapidly urbanizing
wealth of the cities. I would argue that because we have seen the two ends of the
societal fabric, we have a special moral obligation to bridge the gap. Indian
Americans must use the advantages and opportunities that they have received by
living in the United States to advance the welfare of societies that are
underprivileged in India. Narendra Modi, the recently elected Prime Minister of
India, also outlined this responsibility of Indians across the world defining the
need for all Indians to come to together to advance our great nation. Few people
realize how much we can do. Several research think tanks outline the cultural
barrier in underdeveloped parts of India that prevents aid delivery. People see the
workers doing foreign aid as outsiders. We can come around to fix that problem by
bridging the need of NGOs that are English speaking and the populous that is native
to that area.
We must act as bridge builders, dedicating ourselves to building cohesion
throughout the Indian and Western community. Only then can India and the world
as a whole prosper.
Total Word Count: 496