To Be or Not to Be South Asian: Contemporary Indian American Politics

There are two major types of coalitional alliances that ethnic groups have developed in the U.S.: coalitions based on continent of origin and coalitions based on religious affiliation. What are the similarities and differences between the two types of mobilizations and how does each affect the ethnic community and the wider society? My article examines these debates by looking at two ways in which Indian Americans are entering the public sphere in the U.S.: around a "South Asian" platform and around a pan-Hindu or "Indic" identity.