The elaborate and lavish White House state dinner hosted for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by United States President Barack Obama in November, and the caliber of guests invited, was in part to acknowledge the extraordinary impact of Indian Americans in the US in every field of endeavour, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has said.
Maryland Democrat Congressman Hoyer, while keynoting the Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill hosted by the National Federation of Indian American Associations, recalled the 'the wonderful state dinner' for Dr Singh.
"It was an extraordinary event -- literally the largest state dinner that I've attended, and I have been to six or seven or eight over the years," he said.
"It was truly an amazing event, with an outpouring of every important American that I can think of was there. Why? To make it graphically clear the respect and deep affection that Americans have for India and for Indians, and a recognition of the extraordinary impact Indian Americans have made in the United States in every field of endeavour," he said.
Hoyer added, "Now, of course, we all know the impact on the medical profession, but in every significant area -- of engineering, of science, of business -- Indians Americans are making an extraordinarily positive and important contribution to the growing strength of our country."
He acknowledged, "We are in tough times, when we have faced the biggest economic decline that we have seen in 75 years. (But) We are coming back and we are coming back in large part because of the enterprise of so many Americans and significantly Indian Americans, who are starting to bring our economy back, grow jobs, expand their own businesses and give opportunities to literally thousands of other Americans."
Hoyer said his presence at the reception was "to thank you for what you do and I come here to congratulate you for being here -- being in Washington, being active, being focused, reaching out, making sure that the Congress and policymakers in Washington, DC understand your perspective. Because you bring a unique perspective -- just as Irish Americans or Italian Americans, Polish Americans, German Americans have all made a contribution, but also in understanding how we can forge an even closer, stronger relationship, the advice and counsel of those of you who either came from India or are first generation Americans."
The influential lawmaker said that a constant refrain of his to non-Asian Americans was pointing to the template of the Jewish Americans and Asian Americans and the success of these two communities. "I give this observation to non-Asian Americans that there are two ethnic groups in America who focus their children most specifically on education and they perform best in our schools."
Hoyer said Asian American and Jewish American parents "focus their children on educational attainment for future success and I want to thank you for doing that because America is a better, stronger country because of your focus."
"So, thank you for making America a better place, thank you for bringing the values of a democracy, of a people that want to live and be free, that wants to reach out and include, as opposed to excluding, thank you for being such great Americans," Hoyer added, to sustained applause from the nearly 200 Indian Americans attending the reception from across the US.
Image: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer at the Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill hosted by the National Federation of Indian American Associations | Photograph: Paresh Gandhi
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