Suhas Subramanyam has etched his name in history as the first Indian-American Congressman from the East Coast and the only lawmaker from his community to take the oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.


Representing Virginia’s 10th district in the United States Congress, Subramanyam’s swearing-in ceremony marked a proud moment for Indian-American representation.

The ceremony was witnessed by his mother, Tulsi Gabbard, a trailblazer herself as the first Hindu-American elected to the US House of Representatives and the first to take an oath on the Bhagavad Gita. Gabbard, who represented Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District from 2013, immigrated to the US through Dulles Airport and embraced Hinduism as a teenager. She is now nominated for the esteemed position of Director of National Intelligence, further exemplifying her significant contributions to public service.

"Honoured to Be the First, But Not the Last"

In his statement after the swearing-in, Subramanyam reflected on the remarkable journey of his family:
"My parents got to see me sworn in as the first Indian-American and South Asian Congressman from Virginia. If you had told my mother when she landed at Dulles Airport from India that her son would go on to represent Virginia in the United States Congress, she might not have believed you. But my story embodies the promise America holds. I am honoured to be the first, but not the last, as I represent Virginia’s 10th in Congress."






So, who is Suhas Subramanyam?

Suhas Subramanyam is a former policy advisor to President Barack Obama and a respected leader in Virginia’s political landscape. Elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2019, he founded the bipartisan "Commonwealth Caucus," a group dedicated to fostering collaboration across party lines.

With Subramanyam’s election, the 119th US Congress now includes four Hindu lawmakers: Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Shri Thanedar, and Subramanyam himself. The Congress continues to reflect America’s diverse religious landscape, with members from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist communities. Of the total 535 members, Christians constitute the majority with 461 representatives, followed by 32 Jews, and smaller but significant representations from other faiths, including Hindus and Muslims.

Source / Image Credit : Newsarenaindia , GG2.net