The Indian-American community is dynamic, comprised of people with a rich history and limitless potential. Our community has achieved incredible success – a success that starts with science and math. The Indian-American community lives and dies on facts, it defines us.

I am the son of an Engineer, brother to a Doctor, related to countless Scientists, and lawyer to even more Indian-owned Businesses. My parents not only put a major focus on studies (with an emphasis on science and math), but led their own lives with a certain clarity, making life decisions based on what would most likely lead them to a life of security and stability. We are of course not all doctors and scientists, but we do have a fact-based, practical approach to our professional, work, and financial lives.

We are a passionate people with a fierce devotion to religion and culture; we havean energy about us, we are an emotional people which sometimes allows us to be misguided, to stray from our core devotion to facts. Our people have historically struggled with political and social matters when balancing their practice of science and math versus their deep emotional connection to their heritage.

We are a passionate people with a fierce devotion to religion and culture; we havean energy about us, we are an emotional people which sometimes allows us to be misguided, to stray from our core devotion to facts. Our people have historically struggled with political and social matters when balancing their practice of science and math versus their deep emotional connection to their heritage.

This struggle has resulted in political divides in both India and among our community in America. We have people on both sides of almost every issue – we fight, we discuss, we compromise, we tolerate, we come together. But now feels different – this time under Trump, a President whose statements and actions are so often not based in facts, math, or science. A President that has theorized about ingesting bleach to treat Covid-19. A President that back in February said the number of Covid-19 cases would soon go back down to zero. A President that is now planning to disband the White House Coronavirus Task Force despite the fact that there are more than 1 million cases and 70 thousand deaths in the United States. I could go on. We indisputably have a President that lives in falsehoods – he will say anything and do whatever it takes to get his supporters to believe him.

We have a number of respected Republicans and Democrats in the Indian-American community that genuinely believe that what they are doing, and that the issues they support are the best for the country. We must continue our history of coming together as a community, tolerating one another, respecting each other’s beliefs. Trump, however, with his impassioned lies, and the willingness of some in our community to support him, is challenging our ability to do so.

No matter your political beliefs, please do not forget who we are as a people, please do not forget the role of science and math with our community, please do not forget that logic, practicality, and facts are at the heart of who we are.  Let’s not be swayed from who we are by mistruths.  Let’s demand better, let’s be better, let’s be truly Indian.