If you are on social media, you can’t have missed the heated arguments over the H1B visa program. Many top professionals in technology, engineering, and healthcare are of Indian origin. The US holds a lottery each year to permit 85,000 of these professionals to be employed by American corporations. The H1B program has been a key factor in America’s global competitiveness. Some of the most successful US companies are led by immigrants who began their journey on H1B visas. But it’s equally true that some companies have exploited the system to recruit cheaper foreign labour, thus depriving qualified Americans and driving down wages.

Now, contrast the annual H1B number with the 10,000 individuals who cross into America illegally each day! That’s over 3.5 million per year. Unsurprisingly, immigration was a key issue during the recently concluded US elections. But most Indian-Americans imagined that the angst was with illegal immigration—not the legal kind. What they didn’t realise is that politics is not about rational choices. More often, it’s driven by emotion.

You see, Indian-Americans are just 1.35% of the US population, but they contribute disproportionately. Their median annual household income is $153,000, double the American average, and they account for 5-6% of all income tax revenues. They have co-founded 72 of 648 US unicorns, they lead 16 Fortune 500 companies, and own 60% of America’s hotels. Collectively, they generate 11–12 million American jobs. Additionally, they contribute 13% of scientific papers, and file 10% of all US patents. Could it be that the very prosperity of this group is fuelling racism in a tough economy? Sure. Success often breeds contempt.

The Carnegie Endowment’s report on Indian-American Attitudes shows that 56% of this demographic identified as Democrats in 2020 but only 47% do so now. That’s a significant swing towards the Republican camp. In fact, some surveys show that 45% of Indian-American males supported Donald Trump. Many of them must be wondering about the wisdom of the political choice they made. They shouldn’t. The reality is that neither Democrats nor Republicans are for—or against—them.

Around 51% of Indian-Americans are Hindu. This subgroup has always been more comfortable with Democrats, given the strong support that Republicans receive from Evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics. For this group to swing Republican shows just how badly the Democrats messed up. Recall the badgering of India and Hindus by Democrats such as Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Pramila Jayapal; the needling of India through USCIRF reports; the SWAT raids on the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in New Jersey; the attempts to pass resolution SB403 for perceived caste discrimination in the US; the opposition to a Ram Mandir float at New York’s India Day Parade; the propping up of Khalistani terror suspects; resolutions to demand the reinstatement of Article 370; a regime change operation in Bangladesh at the cost of Hindu lives… the list is long. Contrast that with Trump who unequivocally condemned “the barbaric violence against Hindus” in Bangladesh. His statement accused the Biden-Harris team of having “ignored Hindus across the world and in America.” He further said he would “strengthen our great partnership with India and my good friend, PM Modi.” His earlier participation in the Howdy Modi event in Houston and the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad may have been strategic but were clearly enthusiastic. Trump’s hard line stance on Islamism also resonated with many Hindus.

But could all of that come undone with the H1B fracas? Probably not. This is a learning moment for Indian-Americans. They should take a page out of the Mahabharata. In that epic, Shalya (the ruler of the kingdom of Madra) plays a fascinating and multi-faceted role. Initially aligned with the Pandavas, he is tricked by Duryodhana into joining the Kauravas. Acting on Krishna’s advice, Shalya becomes Karna’s charioteer during the Kurukshetra war. However, instead of supporting Karna, Shalya subtly questions Karna’s strategies, exaggerates Arjuna’s superiority, exploits superstitions, and sows seeds of doubt at crucial moments. In modern geopolitics, Shalya might well be seen as a lobbyist, an influential force working quietly behind the scenes to shape outcomes.

A striking example of a contemporary “Shalya” is the pro-Israel lobby. The US hosts 51 pro-Israeli lobbying organizations of various sizes, despite the Jewish population accounting for only 2.2% of the country. But consider this: half of America’s 800 billionaires are Jewish. Is it any wonder that the US unilaterally relocated its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? Or that military aid to Israel reached a whopping $16.3 billion last year?

Having Hindus in the limelight—Vivek Ramaswamy, Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, Usha Vance, or Sriram Krishnan—does not ensure that the interests of Indian-Americans are protected. In America, as indeed in most of the world, it’s usually about money. Given the provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act, it is illegal for foreign nationals, governments, or corporations to directly or indirectly contribute money to US political campaigns, candidates, or parties. But the Jewish community in the US is able to protect Israeli and Jewish interests irrespective of which administration is at the helm. That’s what Indian-Americans need to learn from.

In the Ramayana, it was the maidservant Manthara who altered the political landscape of Kosala. It was Vibhishana’s insights that influenced the outcome of Rama’s war with Ravana. It was Hanuman’s intervention that prompted Sugriva to lend the weight of his army to Rama. What was common to all these characters? They were insiders. Insiders wield unparalleled power to shape decisions, whether through subtle persuasion or strategic support. By leveraging their economic strength, intellectual capital, and cultural heritage, Indian-Americans must play a vital role in protecting their own interests as well as those of Bharat.

--- The writer is an author of several works of fiction.