AURORA, Ill.
An Indian American Political Action Committee (IPAC) has been formed by prominent community members in Illinois to build awareness in their community and also educate legislators on issues affecting their community. They issued a press release after their meeting here March 1.
A basic premise in forming IPAC is that the Indian American community, despite its growing numbers, has not got its due in political representation in the U.S. and in Illinois. Its purpose is to identify, train and help promising candidates of Indian origin, who have demonstrated an understanding, interest, and commitment for the betterment of Illinois State while serving the needs of their own community.
The managing committee includes Krishna Bansal, Vandana Jhingan, Srinarayan Chandak and Harendra Mangrola as Executive Board Members and Sohan Joshi, Shamkant Sheth, Amitabh Mittal, Bharat Barai, Amar Upadhyay, Jitendra Diganvker, Anil Deshpande, Utpal Parikh, Ajay Kalavala, Vasavi Chakka and Vinesh Virani as initial board members.
IPAC will solicit, facilitate, receive and accumulate voluntary contributions to be distributed for political expenditures to the campaign, political and leadership committees of candidates for political offices. IPAC may also educate citizens of Indian origin about the political process and encourage their participation through outreach and advocacy efforts. IPAC will also hold forums and provide endorsement to candidates in key races based on service to Indian American community irrespective of their party affiliation.
With a history of political involvement, Bansal has been active as a liaison between the administration of the two suburbs of Naperville and Aurora, with the Indian American community. Thanks to his persistence, Aurora became the first U.S. city to appoint an Indian American commission, of which he is the chairperson. The city also became the first in the U.S. to sponsor a Diwali celebration, complete with fireworks.
“In Naperville, Indian Americans are the largest minority making up nine percent of the local population, against three percent in the state of Illinois and one percent in the U.S. Yet, everyone here lives in silos. We need people to take political participation to the next level. The first generation has to get involved because the second generation follows the example of their parents,” said Bansal
“The best potential candidates probably have never considered running for elected office. For races involving local, state and federal in Illinois, IPAC will identify citizens of Indian origin who have potential, interest as well as have demonstrated their desire to serve the community and are not self-serving. IPAC will provide education, guidance and training to such candidates on issues, processes and election campaign,” said Jhingan.
Both Bansal and Jhingan stressed that the success of IPAC would ultimately depend on the involvement from the Indian American community. “The U.S. is our ‘karma bhoomi’. We have gained benefits from this land. We have to give back to the best of our ability for our sake, and for the sake of our children,” said Bansal.