How I was Influenced by My Father-in-Law’s Sense of Service Rooted in Dharma and Tradition
June is a month filled with celebrations and commemorations, whether it’s LGBTQ Pride, immigrant heritage, or Juneteenth. As we turn the tide on the pandemic, I find myself attending more in-person events. On Father’s Day, I took time for reflection, both for the history of activism and leadership that ensured these significant days would be honored, and the commitment to service that my father and father-in-law instilled in me.
While I resented my father’s decision to return our family to India when I was 15, my desire to serve my country, to seek knowledge and truth, echoes his approach to life. A scholar of English literature, he sent me off to college at NIT Warangal with three books that he said were critical to understanding the world: the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the Complete Works of Shakespeare. Even to this day, he always has a quote or a passage handy that serves me well as I figure out how to best serve the people in my district and others who see me as a role model.
In early 2019, I realized what an outsized role I have as an elected leader: a fourth-grader on a field trip to Lansing, with two braids, big brown eyes, and a bindi on her forehead, asked me for my autograph. We had just finished a tour of the Capitol, and I was answering questions. I had taken the class onto the House floor, something only a legislator can do. This young girl had been fidgety and inquisitive, and her question at the end made me realize in a very palpable way, that representation matters.
Soon after, I launched an effort with a few Indian American leaders to host the first Indian American Legislative Day on the National Day of Higher Education, June 6, to bring Indian Americans of all ages from across the state, to the seat of power in Lansing. This June, we successfully held the second event of its kind, with a larger group of organizations and a smaller group in the Capitol Rotunda. Bringing people in, helping them see the power of advocacy, and lift their voices for the common good, is critical to a vibrant democracy. It also helps to ensure that all people have access to opportunity.
Helping others, especially providing people in need access to education, was a hallmark of my late father-in-law’s approach to life. A man rooted in dharma and tradition, he was known in the family and amongst friends and colleagues alike as one who always gave — his time, money, and talents. His influence on our nuclear family deepened my own commitment to sewa — the ideal of serving the other without reward or recognition. The paradox of my public service today is that I — and my campaign and legislative teams — must make sure we trumpet what we have done and how we help others on social media.
As my friend and Hindu leader Dr. Murali Balaji has pointed out, it’s “…more than just putting up social media symbols and sharing hashtags. It means doing the work of empathy-based action…” Balaji referenced our LGBTQI+ family members, and our common friend Dr. Sabrina Dent took it a step further and established the common ground that pride celebrations have with Juneteenth. They signify “freedom and the declaration of joy in one’s identity and full existence in society,” a joy shared by so many immigrants who have chosen to make the United States their/our home. Little did I realize that in attending so many events as a legislator, I would deepen my understanding and appreciation for the shared experiences of Filipino and Indian Americans.
June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and America’s motto — E Pluribus Unum, that out of many we are one — was so relevant as I attended the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) event to celebrate the 123rd anniversary of Filipino Independence. We hoisted a Philippine flag, symbolic of the liberation from Spanish colonizers.
Liberty will be celebrated again on July 4 and Aug. 15 when Americans, Indians, and Indian Americans will mark their freedom from the British. As we wrap up the month of voting on divisive, partisan bills, I hope for a renewed spirit as I connect with constituents. As the first Democrat to represent this district, I am always grateful to be home and hear from neighbors to update my legislative agenda. Striving for unity in our diversity is my job as a public servant and is also America’s promise.
(Top photo: Indian American Legislative Day at the historic Capitol Rotunda in Lansing, Michigan on June 8th, 2021.)
Padma Kuppa is Democratic State Representative for Michigan’s 41st House District and has been just re-elected for a second term. A mother, an engineer from NIT Warangal, and an automotive and IT professional for over 2 decades, and a civic and interfaith leader for years, she is the first Indian immigrant and Hindu in the Michigan state legislature. You can reach her at padmakuppa@house.mi.gov. Learn more at ElectPadmaKuppa.com or Kuppa.housedems.com.