Suhas Subramaniam: American MP Suhas Subramaniam took the oath of office by placing his hand on Geeta. This year, he is the only MP who has taken oath by placing his hand on Bhagavad Gita, the holy religious text of Hindus. Subramaniam is the first Indian-American Congressman (US Congressman) from Virginia. His mother was also present during his oath taking. Suhas Subramaniam’s video is going viral on social media, because it was a historic moment for crores of Indians. “My parents watched me take the oath as the first Indian-American lawmaker from Virginia,” Subramaniam said in a statement after the swearing-in.
According to PTI, Subramaniam further said, “If you had told my mother when she landed at Dulles airport from India that her son was going to represent Virginia in the US Congress, she might not have believed you. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to represent Virginia.”
Tulsi Gabbard (43), the first American Hindu elected to the US House of Representatives, is the first MP who took the oath by placing her hand on Geeta. She was first sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives on January 3, 2013, representing Hawaii’s Congressional District.
Gabbard converted to Hinduism in her teens. Now Suhas Subramaniam taking oath by placing his hands on the holy Bhagavad Gita is a symbol of the growing influence of Hindu-Americans in American politics. He told how his parents came from India. He never would have imagined that his son would ever represent Virginia in Congress.
The growing presence of Indian-Americans in American politics is largely influenced by Subramaniam’s success. Subramaniam’s victory is a significant achievement for South Asian and many Indian representatives in American politics.
Subramaniam’s political journey
Before reaching the US Congress, Subramaniam was working as a policy advisor in the administration of former President Barack Obama. Subramaniam, elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2019, worked on issues as diverse as economic development and public health. His entry into Congress is not only another step in the political advancement of Indian Americans. But it also points toward more diverse and richer representation in American politics.
Subramaniam’s political travels from Virginia to Washington also reflect America’s lineup of growing representation of South Asians at the highest levels of government. This in turn reflects the socio-political ascent of the Indian-American community in shaping the future of America.
With Subramaniam’s election, the number of Indian-American lawmakers in Congress (US Parliament) has now increased to four. Other Indian-American Congress members include Raja Krishnamurthy, Ro Khanna and Sri Thanedar. This reflects the growing political influence of Indian-Americans, who are now one of the most prominent ethnic groups in the US Congress.
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Apart from these four Hindu members, the number of Buddhists in Congress is also increasing. The current Congress has three members, a testament to the diverse religious composition of American lawmaking bodies. Christians, with 461 members, are followed by Jews, who have 32 members.