There was a time when engineers and architects of Indian origin working in the United States were not treated with respect. An atmosphere of discrimination existed against them. They were at a disadvantage in getting government contracts, as they were considered inferior to their fellow professionals who had grown up and studied in the United States.
However, the Indian professionals were keen to fight against this underlying attitude. They wanted to improve their image and the prevailing perception about them.
Mohan Jethwani, who was working in the department of water resources of the City of New York in late ‘70s and early ‘80s, felt distressed at this attitude of city officials. He explained the scenario with these words: “There was an implicit attitude among city officials against hiring engineers from India.”
When Jethwani probed the reasons behind their hostility against professionals of Indian origin, he was told that some contractors and consultants of Indian origin were unable to communicate with the officials. Jethwani also found that a similar attitude did not exist against professionals belonging to other ethnicities, especially those from Eastern Europe.
Sensing that a false image had been built up against the Indian professionals due to an avoidable communication problem, Jethwani got together with some of his friends and decided to form a networking platform. He wanted to build a forum that could iron out misunderstandings and provide opportunities to its members to improve their skills. Thus, the Society of Indo American Engineers and Architects (SIAEA) was founded under the leadership of Jethwani.
“We started SIAEA to establish a forum where we could show solidarity with our fellow engineers and architects of Indian origin,” said Jethwani at the annual gala dinner meeting of the organization in November 2007.
Two-and-a-half decades later and after implementation of a series of initiatives aimed at upgrading the profile of engineers of Indian origin, the misconception about the Indian professionals has not only been erased, but they have also moved up into the elite group of “affluent professionals.”
“Today we are treated with respect in the corridors of power,” said Nayan Parikh, chairman of the 2008 Gala Dinner of the Society. “In recent years we have connected with a good number of high officials. Our contacts with fellow professionals plus our accomplishments have been noticed by people who matter. As a result, engineers and architects of Indian origin are looked upon with a lot of respect.”
Now, SIAEA has achieved a respectable image among city officials and mainstream society. According to Bansi Shah, president of the organization, the society has worked hard to enhance the image of Indian professionals. “We have stepped forward to assimilate into the American mainstream,” he said.
Today, the Society boasts its growing membership which has crossed the 500 mark. The members include developers and individuals connected with the construction industry.
“Mr. Jack Kapur, my immediate predecessor, worked relentlessly to streamline the Society for a vertical expansion. He believed that the strength of an organization lies in its membership; and through hard campaigning and membership drives, the membership of SIAEA has increased. His humbleness and selfless networking brought the Society into the limelight,” commented Shah.
SIAEA is now one of the leading organizations of professional engineers, architects and entrepreneurs in the Tri-State area.
