A single image on the cover of Meenakshi Ahamed’s new book, Indian Genius, speaks volumes about the Indian-American journey. It features 16 iconic figures, side by side like a class photo, capturing a legacy of excellence. In that one photograph are prominent names like Kanwal Rekhi, Vinod Khosla, Shantanu Narayen, Satya Nadella, Suhas Patil, Nikesh Arora, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Chandrika Tandon, Fareed Zakaria, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Congressman Ro Khanna, Nikki Haley, Neal Katyal, and renowned doctors and writers Abraham Verghese, Siddhartha Mukherjee, and Atul Gawande.
What links all of them? They or their parents were born in India—some in rural villages, some in big cities. Decades ago, they left the subcontinent behind and journeyed across mountains and rivers toward their new destination: America. These names are deeply embedded in the narrative of Indian-American excellence and stand as symbols of power, strength, and promise.
Ahamed, who is also the author of A Matter of Trust: India-US Relations from Truman to Trump, takes a more intimate approach with Indian Genius, exploring the rise of Indians in the U.S. through the personal and professional journeys of 16 individuals. Born in Calcutta, Ahamed first came to the U.S. as a student and later worked with institutions like the World Bank and NDTV. Like many others, she belonged to the so-called “$8 Club” of immigrants who arrived in America with only a few dollars and a dream.
Rather than make her book a list of high earners, Ahamed focused on impact. “I wanted to see whether someone had an impact in the community on their way up,” she said. She chose three spheres where Indian-Americans have been particularly influential: technology, medicine, and public policy. In each category, she focused on five figures, presenting their stories in rich detail.
Her own experience gave her a unique lens. She held on to her Indian passport for years before choosing to stay in the U.S. and embrace American citizenship. That transition offered her insight into what makes Indians succeed. “When you live in a country of 1.5 billion people, competition is ingrained in you,” she said. “You’re competing for everything from day one.”
That competitive edge is evident in the story of Kanwal Rekhi, who grew up in poverty and eventually became what Ahamed calls the “godfather” of the Indian tech community in Silicon Valley. His company, Excelan, became the first Indian-American-owned firm to go public on Nasdaq in 1987. Rekhi once noted, “Indians in the Valley did not look at Bill Gates and imagine they could become him, but when they saw me, another Indian, run a company and go public with it, it inspired them. They felt, ‘If he can do it, why not me?’”
Yet even Rekhi made missteps. As a new immigrant, he turned down a job at IBM—then the leader in computing—and was later blacklisted for refusing the offer without a strong reason. But he went on to co-found The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), which now has 61 chapters across 14 countries.
The idea of jugaad—Indian ingenuity—runs deep in many of the stories. Suhas Patil of Cirrus Logic showed inventive talent as a boy, crafting projects from scrap. He credited a high school realization that “electronics had legs” with his decision to pursue engineering, eventually gaining a scholarship to MIT based on his IIT thesis.
Ahamed highlights the role of India’s top educational institutions. Vinod Khosla, another IIT alumnus, described how getting in “was the only way to escape whatever was your lot in society,” emphasizing the meritocracy and performance-based admission. “Your community determines how you develop,” he said, adding that IIT becomes “a brand of excellence that you are associated with.”
These pioneers—Rekhi, Khosla, Patil—were part of the early wave of Indian tech leaders in the U.S. “Smarts are not enough,” Khosla explained. “You had to have a risk-taking entrepreneurial culture to leave the comfort of home and come to this country not knowing anybody… Silicon Valley is about performance and it’s not just a place; it’s a mindset.”
He also stated, “I was never coming here to just get a job. What makes me happy are the things I’ve pursued. It’s this internal drive to do things that motivates me, not what others expect of me.”
Transformational leadership is another recurring theme. Satya Nadella and Shantanu Narayen receive high praise from Ahamed for reshaping Microsoft and Adobe with future-oriented strategies rooted in AI. “They stand out as truly visionary CEOs,” she wrote.
In medicine, figures like Dr. Atul Gawande have shifted paradigms. His book The Checklist Manifesto led to a 60% drop in hospital infections, and his later work, Being Mortal, questioned the medical obsession with prolonging life. “You have to weigh prolonged life against what the patient wants,” Ahamed noted, advocating hospice as a humane alternative.
Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee and Dr. Abraham Verghese also brought about major changes, from cancer care to AIDS-era medicine. “There’s something called Jugaad in India… being able to create something out of nothing – and leaving things better than they found them,” Ahamed said.
Chandrika Tandon’s journey from engineering school to McKinsey partner to Grammy-nominated musician exemplifies this spirit. She famously interviewed at McKinsey in a sari and chappals. “When you don’t look at boundaries, everything seems connected. Everything seems possible,” she said.
Ahamed’s book also looks at the broader impact of thought leaders like Deepak Chopra and Fareed Zakaria. Chopra popularized yoga in America, and Zakaria reshaped global news commentary. “All of a sudden, everyone from Dubai to Delhi to Des Moines, Iowa were listening to him,” Ahamed noted.
While spelling bee winners like Indian-American children demonstrate discipline and drive, Ahamed distinguishes that from genius. “Winning spelling bees led them to perfectly respectable careers but does not lead to becoming CEO of Microsoft,” she observed.
As for the future of Indian-American success, Ahamed remains cautiously optimistic despite immigration restrictions. “There’s always room for excellence, no matter where you are,” she said. “If you have really remarkable abilities and you’re smart and you have something that society wants, there are always going to be avenues to succeed.”
She adds that America’s strength lies in its immigrant roots. “Every wave of immigrants has contributed to this country and Indians are the most recent. We all, every one of us and our ancestors, have contributed towards the American story – so we should be celebrating that.”
In tribal regions where access to healthcare is limited, SHED has established Health Centers that provide essential primary medical services. More severe or complex cases are referred to larger hospitals, such as Bhaktivedanta Hospital located in Meera Road. These centers serve as a crucial health lifeline in areas that often lack even basic medical facilities.
“ITServe and its member community is committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and actively contributing to local communities nationwide,” said Anju Vallabhaneni. “We recognize the sacrifices of our veterans and first responders, who selflessly serve our nation. Supporting them and their families is of utmost importance to us, as we express our gratitude for their unwavering dedication and bravery.”
The book launch garnered widespread attention and praise, underscoring the impact of India’s cultural footprint at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Among the many distinguished guests attending the event were acclaimed figures from across the globe, including legendary Hollywood producer Ashok Amritraj, billionaire industrialist Prakash Hinduja, William Pfeiffer, Chairman of Global Gate, celebrated art historian Sundaram Tagore, and a range of internationally renowned filmmakers such as Gurinder Chaddha, Rima Das, Sudhir Misra, Pan Nalin, Deepak Tijori, and Vijay Singh. Together with leading personalities from both Indian and global cinema, they came together in a show of solidarity and celebration of India’s cultural ascent.
influencer. Bhuvan Lall, clearly moved by the moment, shared his personal reflections on the launch and his decades-long association with Cannes. “Cannes 2025 has been a dream come true, both for my journey of 3 decades at the festival and the launch of Namaste Cannes. I’m honored to share this story of India’s soft power with the world,” he said.
The selection of Cannes as the venue for this launch was deeply symbolic. As one of the most celebrated film festivals in the world, Cannes has long been a benchmark for cinematic excellence. Holding the book launch here sent a powerful message about how far India has come in terms of artistic recognition and global outreach. For Bhuvan Lall, whose own relationship with the festival spans over thirty years, it was a moment of deep personal and professional fulfillment.
As a Diplomat of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, championing holistic approaches to managing and reducing Chronic Disease, especially in underserved communities, “Dr Kathula’s contributions extend far beyond the walls of his clinic. As a visionary leader in AAPI, he has amplified the voices of Physicians of Indian religion, advocated for meaningful healthcare reforms, and promoted international collaboration in medicine and research under his leadership,” Rep. Jackson added.
Dr. Satheesh Kathula is a renowned hematologist and oncologist based in Dayton, Ohio, currently serving as the President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). Dr. Kathula, in his response after receiving the award, said, “I am truly humbled to receive this Lifetime Achievement in Global Healthcare Leadership alongside several other remarkable individuals. This inspires not only me, but the people who are serving the community and society at large.”
Under his leadership, AAPI has launched a program called “Million Miles of Gratitude” to honor veterans by promoting physical activity. Participants can log their walking or running miles, with each mile serving as a tribute to the veterans. The goal is to collectively reach a million miles in the coming year. In May this year, he led a highly successful AAPI Legislative Day on Capitol Hill, where AAPI sought to collectively shape the best health care for the people of US, with the physician at the helm, caring for the medically underserved.
Dr Kathula’s love for his motherland has manifested in him setting up humanitarian and medical projects in India. The most important of them is establishing a state-of-the-art pharmacy college in Warangal in Telangana, where he grew up. Named the Pathfinder Institute of Pharmacy and Educational Research (PIPER), the non-profit with Dr Kathula as the Chairman provides quality education and has already graduated over 1,000 students who are now working in different parts of India and abroad. He conducted several medical camps close to his native place and donated a defibrillator, water purification plant, and library to his native place.