IASA banquet highlights conference

Dinner, dancing and a keynote address by Minnesota state Rep. Satveer Chaudhary marked IASA's banquet Saturday night, the climax of this weekend's Midwestern Indian American Students Conference.

Strings of white lights and gold-embossed saris were hung above the entrance of the Michigan Union Ballroom, welcoming the nearly 300 conference participants to the banquet.

Inside the ballroom, individual candles accented dozens of elegantly-decorated tables. Most women wore colorful Indian saris, some with intricate beading and embroidery.

Following the meal of traditional Indian food, Chaudhary addressed the issue of political activism in his speech.

Chaudhary, the first Asian American elected to the Minnesota legislature and only the fourth Asian Indian to be elected to any legislature in the country, said Indian Americans need to become more involved in politics.

Although Indians have achieved strong roles on the social and economic levels, Chaudhary said, there is still much to be accomplished in U.S. politics.

"If we want to assure success, it is essential that every one of us be involved in mainstream politics," Chaudhary said, adding that through pointed efforts in a few areas of politics, Indians can gain influence and access to policy makers.

"Young Indians can achieve community, political and self-interested goals by simply getting involved," Chaudhary said, suggesting volunteerism in political campaigns as a way to get involved.

"A consistent, reliable volunteer is like gold to any elected official," he said.

Chaudhary also emphasized the role race plays in society.

"Sometimes as a minority we tend to feel a little sorry for ourselves. Too many coconuts screwing up our identity," he said, referring to the fruit's characteristic of being brown on the outside and white on the inside.

"Maybe I have to admit I had to work a little harder because of my race," Chaudhary said. "I didn't run away from my Indianness - I ran with my Indianness."

Because of Indians' ability to overcome struggles and achieve success in this country, he said, they may be seen as a unique minority, even though inequality still remains.

But Indians can use their successes to "make sure we have a seat at the political table," Chaudhary said. "If we can be one in India, we can be one in America."

Chaudhary's address at the banquet was just one of many events at this weekend's

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