Kazhugu
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New York: While all five Indian-American candidates hoping to enter the US Congress lost out, 31-year-old Iraq war veteran Tulsi Gabbard created history by being the first Hindu American in Congress. She will take her oath on the Bhagavad Gita.
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Proud of her Hindu religion, Gabbard is not Indian. She was born in American Samoa to a Catholic father (Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard) and a Hindu mother. She moved to Hawaii when she was two and embraced Hinduism as a teenager and is well-versed in the scriptures.
Gabbard says her faith will be an asset in Congress, where she hopes to work on war veterans’ affairs, environmental issues, and cultivating a closer relationship between US and India.
“It is clear that there needs to be a closer working relationship between the United States and India. How can we have a close relationship if decision-makers in Washington know very little, if anything, about the religious beliefs, values, and practices of India’s 800 million Hindus?” Gabbard told The Huffington Post.
“Hopefully the presence in Congress of an American who happens to be Hindu will increase America’s understanding of India as well as India’s understanding of America.”
In a statement released after her victory, Gabbard acknowledged that her election would be an inspiration to Hindus across America who feel diffident about having a different religion.
“On my last trip to the mainland, I met a man who told me that his teenage daughter felt embarrassed about her faith, but after meeting me, she’s no longer feeling that way,” Gabbard said.
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Unlike Jindal, Governor Haley has gone out of her way to have strong ties with India. She invited Indian ambassador Nirupama Rao on a three-day visit to Charleston in April this year to sit down with members of the State Ports Authority to discuss the potential of doing business with Indian companies.
Tulsi Gabbard shows Bobby Jindal it
leaving out the un-necessary parts, just quoting the relevant ones to show how having people practising indian religions in the congress, would be beneficial for indo-american ties....india is an unque position to harness the softpower arising out of its image as the birthplace of hinduism and if utilized in the correct way would go a long way in increasing our clout worldwide where there are significant hindu communities.....
................
Proud of her Hindu religion, Gabbard is not Indian. She was born in American Samoa to a Catholic father (Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbard) and a Hindu mother. She moved to Hawaii when she was two and embraced Hinduism as a teenager and is well-versed in the scriptures.
Gabbard says her faith will be an asset in Congress, where she hopes to work on war veterans’ affairs, environmental issues, and cultivating a closer relationship between US and India.
“It is clear that there needs to be a closer working relationship between the United States and India. How can we have a close relationship if decision-makers in Washington know very little, if anything, about the religious beliefs, values, and practices of India’s 800 million Hindus?” Gabbard told The Huffington Post.
“Hopefully the presence in Congress of an American who happens to be Hindu will increase America’s understanding of India as well as India’s understanding of America.”
In a statement released after her victory, Gabbard acknowledged that her election would be an inspiration to Hindus across America who feel diffident about having a different religion.
“On my last trip to the mainland, I met a man who told me that his teenage daughter felt embarrassed about her faith, but after meeting me, she’s no longer feeling that way,” Gabbard said.
.............
Unlike Jindal, Governor Haley has gone out of her way to have strong ties with India. She invited Indian ambassador Nirupama Rao on a three-day visit to Charleston in April this year to sit down with members of the State Ports Authority to discuss the potential of doing business with Indian companies.
Tulsi Gabbard shows Bobby Jindal it
leaving out the un-necessary parts, just quoting the relevant ones to show how having people practising indian religions in the congress, would be beneficial for indo-american ties....india is an unque position to harness the softpower arising out of its image as the birthplace of hinduism and if utilized in the correct way would go a long way in increasing our clout worldwide where there are significant hindu communities.....
