Shashi Tharoor misunderstands the diaspora—we are not proxies for India in the US
India deserves a stronger voice on the global stage. But, expecting Indian Americans, increasingly under attack from both ends, to continue sacrificing and paying for it is not a sound strategy.
Suhag A. Shukla
SUHAG A. SHUKLA


https://theprint.in/opinion/shashi-tharoor-diaspora-india-in-the-us...



AI Overview
Suhag A. Shukla, co-founder and executive director of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), responded to Indian politician Shashi Tharoor's comments by stating that Indian-Americans are not "proxies" for the Indian government. In an opinion piece for The Print and on social media in early October 2025, Shukla countered Tharoor's criticism that the Indian-American diaspora was largely silent on US policies affecting India.
The exchange of views
Tharoor's original comments:
Following a meeting with a US congressional delegation in September 2025, Tharoor questioned why the diaspora appeared apathetic to US policies affecting India, including H-1B visa fees and tariffs.
He cited a conversation with a US congresswoman who claimed to have received no calls from Indian-American voters regarding these policy changes.
Tharoor suggested that this silence undermines India's interests and that the community should be more vocal in advocating for the relationship.
Shukla's response:
In her response, Shukla clarified that Indian-Americans are US citizens with primary loyalties and civic duties in the United States.
She argued that expecting them to act as lobbyists for the Indian government's sovereign policy decisions is unreasonable and that India can hire professional lobbyists for such work.
Shukla contended that Tharoor's claims misrepresent the diaspora's involvement and engagement in US issues, and she defended their active participation in shaping policy.
She pointed out that statements like Tharoor's can undermine the diaspora's hard-earned credibility in the US by fueling suspicions that they are not "true Americans".
While acknowledging the deep cultural ties Indian-Americans have with India, Shukla asserted that this does not negate their identity as Americans.
She also highlighted the community's diversity and the unique challenges they face compared to other diaspora groups that Tharoor mentioned.
Tharoor's subsequent reaction:
After Shukla's response, Tharoor welcomed the pushback, stating he was happy his questions got the Indian-American diaspora thinking.
He acknowledged that the challenges of the Indian diaspora are different from others but maintained that they could still make their voices heard within the rules of US democracy.

Major H-1B visa sponsor will not hire a single H-1B applicant going forward


https://www.newsweek.com/h-1b-visa-sponsor-will-not-h-1b-applicant-...

Tata Consultancy Services’ CEO K Krithivasan said that the Indian tech company would reduce the number of H-1B visa holders in its U.S. offices.

Krithivasan told the Times of India that the company would “continue to hire more locally,” adding that this was part of a “reduction in dependency on visa-based talent.”



Why It Matters
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers.



President Donald Trump signed an executive order in September that would impose an annual $100,000 fee to companies for H-1B visas, citing “abuse” of the program.



Critics of the visa scheme have said it undercuts the U.S. workforce, while its proponents have argued that it helps the country draw in skilled talent from around the world.


What To Know
Tata Consultancy Services was the second largest sponsor of H-1B visas in the U.S. in the financial year of 2025, second only to Amazon, with 5,505 visas approved, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Pakistan, F-1 student visas granted in fiscal year 2023 were 3,322. The number of F-1 visas issued in the first half of fiscal year 2025 was 1,928, an increase of 44.3% compared to the same period in the previous year.

https://www.applyboard.com/applyinsights-article/us-student-visa-is...


Total Number of F-1 Visas Issued During H1 Dips

Across most major destinations, new student visa numbers fell in 2024 compared to all-time highs set in 2023. While the US remained the most resilient, this overall slowdown is expected to continue to impact student flows in 2025. Looking at mid-year 2025 data, US government data shows that almost 89,000 international students were issued an F-1 student visa during H1 2025.

The number of F-1 student visas issued to Indian students dropped by 44% year-over-year to 14,700, continuing a downward trend that started in H1 2024. Notably, Indian student demand has softened among most other major Anglophone study destinations. Visa demand from Indian students dropped by nearly 20% between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years in Australia, and that trend is expected to persist in 2024/25 based on H1 fiscal year data. Meanwhile, Indian students were issued 57% fewer Canadian study permits in calendar year 2024 versus 2023.

Over the full 2024 fiscal year, 86,000 US student visas were issued to Indian students, versus 83,000 to Chinese students. If current trends continue, it’s possible Chinese students will become the largest incoming international student population in the US for the first time in four years. In H1 2025, US student visa issuances to Chinese students dropped 24% year-over-year to just over 11,000. However, the H1 2025 total is similar to 2022 and 2023 totals over the same period, suggesting a return to more stable levels of demand.

Over the 2024 fiscal year, 42% of new international students in the US were from India or China. While a sizable proportion of the international student body, this percentage is shifting: in the previous fiscal year, India and China received 49% of all issued F-1 visas.