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<\/a>A few hours later, the focus of the community shifted to the House Chambers where as many as four Indian Americans were sworn in as its members, including Congressman Ami Bera, who has been re-elected for the third consecutive term.<\/p>\n
In the process Bera, 51, equaled the record of Dalip Singh Saundh, who exactly 60-years ago became the first Indian American to be elected as a member of the U.S. Congress.<\/p>\n
Joining Bera was young and dynamic Ro Khanna, 40, representing the Silicon Valley. He was sworn in on a bicentennial edition of the Constitution on loan from the rare books division of the Library of Congress.<\/p>\n
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, 42, who won the election from Illinois took the oath on Gita<\/i>. He is only the second U.S. lawmaker after Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii to take the oath on a Gita<\/i>. Gabbard, the first ever Hindu to be elected to the U.S. Congress took the oath for third consecutive term.<\/p>\n
Having created a national niche for herself even before being sworn in, Pramila Jayapal, 51, is the first Indian American woman in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her 78-year-old mother, who especially came in from India, watched the proceedings from the gallery.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is not about me. It\u2019s about we. It is about the movement of hundreds of thousands of people in Washington\u2019s seventh Congressional District, a diverse coalition of people from all walks of life, who want to ensure that we continue to provide opportunity for all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Congress, I pledge to draw on my experiences as a woman of color, as an immigrant, and as a Washingtonian to speak out against injustice, even when it is not popular, to push for creative solutions to people\u2019s everyday problems, and to find common ground where it can be found,\u201d said Jayapal, who is one of only 23 Members of Congress born in another country apart from Krishnamoorthi.<\/p>\n
Less than a mile away, Indian Americans from across the country gathered later in the night to celebrate the historic occasion at a gala organized by Indiaspora.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a historic moment. Today we are celebrating from success to significance,\u201d said M.R. Rangaswami, eminent investor, philanthropist and entrepreneur.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, we are actually one percent of the Congress. We have come a long way but we have a long way to go,\u201d Rangaswami said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best of the (Indian American) community is yet to come,\u201d said eminent Indian American Ashley Telis at a pre-gala news conference, adding that more is in store from the next generation of Indian Americans.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndian Americans running for office and winning for Congress is really historic,\u201d said political activist Neera Tanden.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(L-r): Rep. Ami Bera, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Ro Khanna, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal were sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives, marking the first time in history more than one Indian American has served in Congress simultaneously. (U.S. House of Representatives) A record five Indian Americans took oath as members of the U.S….<\/p>\n