Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joined scholars and community leaders at the Art Institute of Chicago for the US–India Legacy 250 Symposium, celebrating over 250 years of India’s influence on America.
CHICAGO, IL – On September 13, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi convened with scholars, business leaders, and members of the Indian American community at the Art Institute of Chicago for the US–India Legacy 250 Symposium. This event focused on the extensive connections between India and the United States over the past 250 years.
Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, emphasized the historical impact of India and its people on the development of American society. He noted the significant presence of Indian Americans, stating, “We have to remember how India and Indians influenced the development of America. Over six million of us of Indian origin live and work in America and call it home. And you have powerfully shaped, influenced and continue to write the next chapter for America.”
The symposium is part of Legacy 250, a yearlong initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence while exploring the intellectual, cultural, scientific, economic, and people-to-people exchanges between India and the United States. The Chicago program featured a diverse array of speakers from academia, business, and diplomacy, discussing the historical relationship between the two nations through various lenses, including education, entrepreneurship, technology, and culture.
Among the notable speakers was Professor Madhav Rajan, Dean of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, who underscored the responsibility of Indian Americans to contribute to the institutions that have shaped their lives. “It is our obligation to support the institutions we have inherited and also build new ones as our contribution to this nation,” he stated.
A panel discussion titled “US–India Legacy 250: Past, Present & Future,” moderated by Sanjeev Yadav, Co-Convenor of Legacy 250, brought together experts including Professor James Vaughn, Professor Dilip Gaonkar of Northwestern University, Smita Shah, President and CEO of SPAAN Tech, Arnav Dalmia, Founder and CEO of Tovie, and Neil Khot, President and CEO of Rely Services. The panel examined the evolution of India-U.S. relations, future areas of cooperation, and the increasing presence of Indian Americans in various sectors.
Dr. M. Anand Prakash, Consul General of India in Chicago, also addressed the gathering, while Sara Koerber, Assistant Director of Institutional Philanthropy at the Art Institute of Chicago, welcomed participants to the event.
India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, sent a special message to the symposium, describing Legacy 250 as “an inspiring platform.” The choice of venue at the Art Institute of Chicago was particularly significant, as it connected to one of the earliest chapters of India’s cultural engagement with the United States. This event took place 133 years after Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in September 1893.
Swami Ishatmananda of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago reflected on Vivekananda’s journey to the United States and the ongoing relevance of his teachings. Following the symposium, Koerber guided guests to the Art Institute staircase display commemorating Vivekananda’s Chicago appearance, echoing his iconic greeting: “Sisters and Brothers of America…”
Kanchan and Haimanti Banerjee, authors and convenors of Legacy 250, explained that the initiative arose from research into the often-overlooked connections between India and the United States. These connections encompass trade during the American Revolution, the influence of Indian thought on American literary figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, the spread of yoga through Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi’s impact on the American Civil Rights Movement, and the growth of the Indian-American community.
“The story of India and America is much older, deeper, and more human than most of us realize,” said Kanchan Banerjee, author and Founding Convenor of Legacy 250. “Legacy 250 is about rediscovering those stories and bringing them to the next generation.”
Haimanti Banerjee, co-author and Co-Convenor, posed a thought-provoking question regarding the future of India-U.S. relations: “What can these two nations and their people build together over the next 250 years?” Their book, ‘Threads of Freedom: India and America, 250 Years of Shared Destiny,’ was officially released during the symposium.
The program also featured a Legacy 250 exhibition showcasing significant people, events, and ideas from the history of India-U.S. connections, including artwork by artists associated with Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University. Additionally, a short documentary titled “250 Years in 15 Minutes” premiered at the event, tracing the connections between the two societies through commerce, ideas, spirituality, science, education, migration, and innovation.
In his closing remarks, Avanish Raj, Co-Convenor of Legacy 250, invited individuals, universities, museums, and community organizations to engage with the initiative. The event was emceed by Sindhu Banerjee, a recent graduate of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
According to India West, the Legacy 250 initiative aims to foster a deeper understanding of the historical ties between India and the United States and to inspire future collaboration.