SPECIAL ISSUE

September 10, 1994: Let the youth take the frontline

Dear Readers,
If the second-generation youth were not to their rescue, the highly publicized three-day NFIA convention during Labor Day weekend in Chicago would have been a total fiasco.
The 64,000-dollar question is: whom to blame for this flop show! Was it the so-called community leaders of the Indian community as a whole? How is that functions like the Gujarati Raas-Garba competition or the Bengali conference or the Telugu convention attract attendance in thousands while the issue-oriented convention like the NFIA hardly musters a paltry 300? At this rate, how can we improve our image on the national scene?
Obviously, there is an urgent need to change the so-called leadership at the top. They are self-oriented and egoist. Many of them don’t know how to address from public platforms; they lack the skills to organize national-level events. Instead of focusing on the issues, they focus more on shaking hands with politicians and getting pictures published in the newspapers. And for any failures, they blame each other. Blame must also be apportioned to the media for covering up the incompetence of these leaders.
Our community is equally to be blamed. Even 10,000miles away from our motherland, we still strongly believe in regionalism. We are Gujarati, Bengali, Maharashtrian first and then an Indian! We are socializing more in our own group then involving ourselves in issue-oriented national conference like the NFIA.
After observing the convention at close quarters, one must say it is time to put our youth in the front line. They are more organized, more committed and more sincere then our present cadre of leaders. One can see the enthusiasm in their eyes. Instead of regionalism, one can see nationalism in their spirit.
As one congressman made an off-the-record, pertinent remark: The Pakistani community is small in number but wields strong influence in Washington. In sad contrast, the Indian community is four times bigger, very well settled in the US and still does not carry political clout. The result is that politicians who are openly friends of India are losing their positions for lack of enough support from the Indian community.
Let us review our failings earnestly. It is still not too late to turn a new leaf. Let’s exert a united effort and speak with one voice. This alone will help our community and the nation at large.

Sincerely,

Prashant Shah
Editor & Publisher