By Prashant Shah
Indian Americans stand today at a crossroads, faced with a choice that will determine not only our future in this nation but also the dignity and safety of generations to come. The ideology being pushed by Donald Trump and his movement, cloaked under the slogan of “MEGA,” is nothing less than radioactive. It is an ideology that thrives on fear, suspicion, and division, turning neighbors against each other and communities against minorities. For Indian Americans, it presents a grave danger: the lie that we are outsiders, job stealers, and undeserving participants in the American dream. This lie is not only false, it is destructive to the fabric of America, and it must be rejected with clarity and strength.
For decades, Indian Americans have contributed in every imaginable sphere of American life. We are scientists, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, educators, public servants, and innovators. We pay taxes, we serve in the military, we teach in classrooms, we build businesses, and we strengthen communities. Our story is deeply intertwined with the story of America itself—a story of struggle, perseverance, and hope. To accept the poisonous notion that we do not belong or that our success is somehow a threat to our fellow citizens is to undermine everything this nation stands for. And yet, Trump’s rhetoric seeks to do exactly that. He paints immigrants, particularly those of Indian and Asian descent, as competitors in a zero-sum game, convincing many of his followers that their opportunities are being stolen rather than expanded. This narrative is not just wrong—it is dangerous, because it fans the flames of hatred and fuels hostility against us in workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods.
We cannot afford silence in the face of such danger. Silence would mean complicity. Silence would mean allowing others to define who we are and what we stand for. Indian Americans must rise and reject this ideology in unison, not just for ourselves, but for all communities who find themselves targeted by scapegoating. To fight hatred, we must affirm our belonging. To counter division, we must invest ourselves more deeply in the democratic process, in civic engagement, and in the political life of this country. That is the only way to protect our rights, our children, and our future.
The truth is that Indian Americans have enormous potential power, but too often we are hesitant to use it. Our community is one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the United States, with increasing visibility and influence in technology, medicine, business, and academia. We are among the most highly educated groups in the nation, with incomes that reflect decades of hard work and sacrifice. But political engagement has lagged behind. Too many of us have assumed that staying out of politics protects us from controversy, or that focusing on private success is enough to guarantee our children’s safety. That assumption no longer holds. When leaders at the highest levels of government brand our community as a threat, when their followers embrace policies and rhetoric that exclude us, then our very survival depends on our willingness to step into the public square.
We must take pride in our civic responsibility, just as we take pride in our cultural heritage. Indian Americans should run for office in every state, from school boards to city councils, from legislatures to Congress. We should vote in every election, local and national, making sure our voices are heard at the ballot box. We should volunteer for campaigns that align with our values of inclusion, opportunity, and justice. We should support candidates who defend diversity as a strength, not a weakness, and who see immigrant communities as part of America’s promise, not its downfall. In short, we must become a political force that no party and no leader can afford to ignore.
But political engagement is not just about voting or holding office. It is also about shaping the narrative of who we are. Too many people still know little about Indian American history, our struggles, and our contributions. We must tell our stories with pride and urgency. We must remind our fellow Americans that we are not new here—that our labor has fueled the growth of industries, our research has pushed the boundaries of science, our creativity has enriched culture, and our civic participation has strengthened democracy. We must confront lies with truth, replacing stereotypes with the real faces and voices of our community. That means supporting Indian American journalists, artists, writers, and activists who can amplify our stories to the nation and the world.
The stakes could not be higher. Trump’s MEGA movement is not only about economics—it is about defining who counts as a “real American.” It draws sharp lines between “us” and “them,” and it thrives on resentment toward immigrants and minorities. If we allow that vision to prevail, the consequences will be catastrophic. Indian Americans will face more discrimination in the workplace, more bullying in schools, more violence on the streets, and more exclusion from the promise of equality. We will see laws crafted to limit our opportunities, restrict our immigration, and undermine our rights. And most dangerously, we will see our children grow up in a society that tells them they do not belong, no matter how hard they work or how much they achieve.
That is why this is a wake-up call, not just a polite invitation. Indian Americans must awaken to the reality of the threat before us, and we must act with urgency. The path forward is not fear, but courage. It is not retreat, but engagement. It is not silence, but voice. We must align ourselves with the broader struggle for justice in America, standing shoulder to shoulder with African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Muslims, Jews, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and all others targeted by bigotry. Our strength lies in unity, and our future depends on solidarity.
Let us also remember that America has always been a nation of immigrants, shaped and renewed by the contributions of people from every corner of the globe. The false idea that one group’s success requires another’s suffering is a betrayal of the American dream itself. The truth is that when immigrants thrive, America thrives. When Indian Americans innovate in Silicon Valley, heal in hospitals, teach in universities, or serve in public office, we lift the entire nation. Our presence here is not a burden; it is a blessing. Our work does not take away jobs; it creates new ones. Our success does not weaken America; it strengthens it. That is the message we must send, loudly and proudly, to every corner of this country.
The time to act is now. Every Indian American must ask: what am I doing to protect my rights, my children’s rights, and the rights of others in this country? Am I voting? Am I volunteering? Am I encouraging my friends and family to get involved? Am I telling my story? Am I supporting candidates and causes that defend equality? These are the questions that must guide us in the months and years ahead.
We are not powerless. We are not outsiders. We are Americans. We belong here. And we must fight for that belonging with all the energy, intelligence, and passion that our community has always shown in every field we have entered. If we do so, not only will we protect ourselves from the dangers of Trump’s ideology, we will also help to build a stronger, fairer, and more inclusive America for everyone.
This is our wake-up call. Let us rise to meet it.
