The Indiaspora Story

By MR Rangaswami & Sanjeev Joshipura

This article was originally published in India’s World, on August 28, 2025,

Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, launches the Indiaspora–BCG Impact Report alongside Eric Garcetti, U.S. Ambassador to India, Indiaspora Founder M.R. Rangaswami, and Rajan Navani in New Delhi on August 12, 2024. Image courtesy: Indiaspora (indiaspora.org)

In an increasingly interconnected world, the Indian diaspora has emerged as a global force for change—bridging geographies, sectors, and generations. Far from being confined to any one national story, this community of innovators, changemakers, and leaders spans continents and industries, united by a shared heritage and a desire to give back to their homeland. Against this backdrop, Indiaspora was founded in 2012 with a simple but powerful mission: to transform the collective success of the global Indian diaspora into meaningful, lasting impact. From the US to the UAE, from Singapore to South Africa, we bring together diaspora leaders committed to the public good—and to building a legacy of purpose, connection and progress. Our vision is to position and inspire the Indian diaspora to be a force for good—creating bridges across professions and geographies, and shaping a more inclusive, collaborative future.

This vision took root at the inaugural Indiaspora Forum in September 2012, held in Mohonk, New York. What began as a convening of 100 Indian–American leaders has since grown into a vibrant, international movement. In the journey of any startup, whether for-profit or non-profit, navigating change is inevitable. Generally, most such organisations struggle to survive, and only a few realise their vision. In Indiaspora’s case, the very conception of what we could and should do has evolved over time. When we began, we had no idea it would grow into the global platform it is today. Like any startup that escapes failure, Indiaspora has had to put in significant effort to overcome challenges—many of which have shifted form as we have grown.

As the organisation grew in reach and reputation, it broadened its focus from a US-based one to a more global one. One of the milestones we crossed was during the pandemic when we mobilised over $15 million in aid for India’s COVID-19 relief efforts—an endeavour that drew support from diaspora communities across the world. The initiative underscored the diaspora’s transnational identity—rooted in local communities, yet responsive to global needs. At a time when many organisations faced existential crises during the COVID-19 pandemic, Indiaspora emerged stronger—not because we were immune to difficulty, but because of the goodwill of our community, the support of our members and the fact that we were invested in a mission in which our members and the wider community saw merit. That strength continues to carry us forward today.

One of Indiaspora’s overarching objectives is to connect leaders of the Indian diaspora community to leaders in India. This objective was realised in 2022 when Indiaspora formally launched its operations in India by establishing a fully owned subsidiary. This marked the beginning of a more intentional and sustained presence in the Indian diaspora’s homeland.

From its expanded operations in India, Indiaspora is working to systematically harness the potential of diaspora communities. Through initiatives on philanthropy, business, social entrepreneurs and government leaders, and regional convenings like the Tech Talk series, the organisation has created dynamic platforms for diaspora leaders to share ideas, catalyse partnerships and shape policy agendas across geographies.

In 2024, Indiaspora released its first impact report, co-authored with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The objective behind this report was to spotlight and quantify, with actual data, for the first time, the impact of the Indian–American community across fields such as business, science, philanthropy, politics and the arts in the United States, and its contributions towards India. Similarly, the impact report for the United Arab Emirates was released in 2025 and showcased the history and role of the Indian community in the country. Building on the success of these reports, similar ones are now in development for Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to throwing light on the Indian immigrant and diaspora experience.

Indiaspora’s global approach is also evident in its policy engagements. In the U.S., it has worked with the Department of State, think tanks and congressional leaders to spotlight Indian diaspora voices on issues such as immigration, climate change, education and innovation, keeping true to its spirit of non-partisanship. In India, it partners with NITI Aayog, Invest India and several state governments to foster diaspora-led investments, support policy dialogues and co-create development models across sectors, such as healthcare, sustainability and digital innovation. These engagements have ranged from advising on public–private collaborations and startup ecosystems to facilitating philanthropic initiatives aligned with India’s development goals. Similar partnerships are taking shape in Canada, the UK, Singapore, Australia, South Africa and the UAE, each guided by a common goal, keeping the local context and sensitivities in mind—that is, enabling diaspora communities to become bridges of trust, collaboration and impact.

This “dual engagement” model—where diaspora actors actively contribute to both their countries of residence and origin—has positioned the Indian diaspora as a unique diplomatic contributor in a time when traditional diplomacy is often constrained by political boundaries. Indiaspora’s work embodies a new kind of soft power, built on relationships, values and shared purpose. Nowhere is this more evident than in our high-level events and engagements. In 2023, for instance, Indiaspora was chosen as the official diaspora partner during India’s presidency of the G20. We held the much-touted Indiaspora G20 Forum in August of that year, and it saw over 300 participants from 26 countries. The discussions were focused on India achieving a developed country status by 2047 and how the Indian diaspora could contribute to this vision. It was a worthy precursor to the Indiaspora Forum for Good, the organisation’s flagship annual global summit, the inaugural edition of which was held in Abu Dhabi in February 2025, bringing together over 500 attendees from 34 countries. Philanthropists, entrepreneurs and public leaders came together to explore how the diaspora could drive inclusive and sustainable development. The next edition of the forum will be held in Bengaluru, India, in March 2026.

Indiaspora leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Image courtesy: Indiaspora, via X (@Indiaspora)

Beyond summits and strategy, Indiaspora is also contributing to shaping the global narrative through storytelling. Its content-driven initiatives have spotlighted diaspora communities in Latin America, New Zealand and the Gulf by sharing stories often overlooked in mainstream discourse. These efforts remind us that who tells the story of the diaspora, and how, matters deeply. We have also built a growing content repository on YouTube, featuring interviews, panel discussions and digital series that showcase thought leadership and diverse voices in the Indian diaspora across sectors and geographies.

As the world navigates the challenges of geopolitical fragmentation, climate urgency and rapid technological disruption, the Indian diaspora’s role as a connector of values and ideas is more relevant than ever. Indiaspora is now doubling down on its four core pillars: philanthropy, global connect, civic engagement and social impact, and entrepreneurship and innovation. Whether mentoring the next generation of diaspora leaders or organising regional convenings in emerging markets, Indiaspora continues to evolve—becoming more inclusive, more rooted and more global in outlook.

In particular, we believe in taking an active role in shaping the global discourse around artificial intelligence (AI). At the Future of AI Summit in Dubai and the second AI summit hosted in partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation, Indiaspora convened leading voices from across sectors—technologists, investors, policymakers and social entrepreneurs—to explore the intersection of AI, equity and ethics. Through curated panels and cross-sectoral dialogue, these summits emphasised the importance of building inclusive and responsible AI systems.

From the above, we can glean that the story of Indiaspora is, in many ways, the story of a diaspora coming into its own—evolving from individual success to a collective force for global impact, from assimilation to influence, from presence to purpose. It reflects two key shifts: the growing confidence and cohesion of a 35-million-strong global Indian diaspora spread across over 200 countries and territories, and the deeper connection between the diaspora’s identity and a rising India. A rising India is not just a backdrop for us but an integral part of our self-reflection at Indiaspora. The increasing global attention on the Indian diaspora stems not only from its own achievements but also from the world’s growing interest in India’s economic, geopolitical and cultural ascent. The diaspora is increasingly seen as both a product of and a conduit to this rising India.

In a world in flux, Indiaspora serves as both anchor and sail—rooted in shared heritage, yet driven by an aspirational, global vision. And in telling this story, we are reminded: the diaspora is not merely witnessing history—it is actively shaping it.