Khanna, a former Congressional candidate, had challenged veteran Congressman Tom Lantos three years ago. Lantos is a California Democrat, now chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
He lost in the primary there but has since become close to Lantos and sees the 14-term lawmaker as his mentor. Khanna said such mobilisation is imperative particularly since the Indian-American community "...has serious and powerful interests within issues related to healthcare, research and development, economic policy, immigration, racial profiling, civil liberties, and countless others."
At an event hosted at the residence of Ronak D Desai in Orange County, California, Khanna said these issues are especially salient to the community in Southern California.
"It is time we have a strong and credible seat at the table, not only representing and protesting those interests, but raising the political profile of the community as well," he said. "With leaders like Ronak, Dr (Ravi) Berry, and Dr (Deepak) Rajpoot at the helm, we can establish a political base that will last a lifetime," he added.
Dr Berry a pediatric gastrointestinologist and Rajpoot a pediatric nephrologist, co-hosted the event with Desai, who is currently political director to Dr Kamil Hasan, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist who was the first Indian American to be appointed an At-Large Member of the Democratic National Committee by DNC chairman, former governor Howard Dean.
Addressing more than 50 prominent Indian-American community leaders from across Southern California Khanna, whose responsibilities to the DCCC entails bringing together the community and getting them engaged in the political mainstream at the grassroots level, evoked the name of Sunil Aghi, the political activist in Southern California who died suddenly about five years ago of a heart attack while visiting his ailing mother in India.
"We need to revive the Sunil Aghi base in Los Angeles," Khanna said. "When I was working for Senator (John) Kerry and then at the DNC, everyone would ask me whether I knew Sunil Aghi. He obviously made a huge mark in Democratic politics."
Khanna said those who worked closely with Aghi, such as Dr Rajpoot and Dr Berry, could work with Desai to help build on Aghi's legacy.
Khanna kept hammering away at the importance of the community gaining a voice at the table. "To do so, we must mobilise around the state and around the country," he said, adding that there had to be a coordinated and concerted grassroots-level national presence.
"Emily's list and American Israeli Public Affairs Committee -- with thousands of members around the country -- are great models for the Indian American community to emulate," he said, arguing that mobilisation could not be limited to Washington, DC.
"It must truly be a national effort, and we need pillars of the community in every city to step up and lead," he said.
Khanna said, "One of the best things the Indian-American community did is support Nancy Pelosi to become Speaker of the House. She has seen our intellectual potential, and consulted Indian-American leaders around the country to have an input on the innovation agenda."
He said he knew Pelosi believes the community is important to the future of the US, and declared, "The community could have no better friend." He said it was important to build such relationships with critical Congressional leaders in both parties who recognize the potential of the community.
Khanna, an attorney who is perhaps one of the most articulate spokesmen of Indian Americans in the Democratic Party, argued political mobilisation is the final step for the community.
"We should share our vision about the importance of math and science education, about investing in alternative energy, about standing up for religious pluralism, about caring for the elderly and family values. The Indian-American story is the story of the American dream, and we ought to have elected officials at all levels of government telling it," he said.
This was an achievable goal, Khanna said, adding, "We should have a strong enough national base around this country so that when any credible, thoughtful Indian American runs for office, he or she will receive an outpouring of financial support and volunteers within the first 30 days of announcing."
He asserted that beyond rhetoric, the community needed 100 committed individuals in every major city to put the resources behind this vision.
Acknowledging that fundraising is important, Khanna said he was glad to see "the Indian-American political mobilization go beyond fundraising."
He said there was a need for young people to run for office in their local communities and to volunteer on campaigns. He said he was happy he received volunteer applications and resumes from Indian Americans around the country hoping to get involved in Hillary Clinton's campaign.
"I am sure other young Indian Americans are interested in John Edwards, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, or Barack Obama's candidacies on the Democratic side," he said.
Khanna said that as he travels around the country on behalf of the DCCC, "I feel an energy and hunger in the Indian-American community to get involved. There is a sense that our time has come. I see Indian Americans very comfortable with their identity -- fiercely proud of being American but also proud of their heritage and religious diversity. First-generation Indian Americans want to see Indian Americans succeed in politics because they know it will be the final mark of all they have achieved since coming to America."
