Social Media Erupts in Solidarity and Support for India as it Fights the Deadly Second Surge of Covid-19

Indian American lawmakers, entrepreneurs, professionals and ordinary citizens rise to the occasion.

As India is dealing with a ferocious and deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, help is coming from all corners of the world, including the U.S. lawmakers, CEOs of about 40 top American companies, Indian American organizations and ordinary citizens. They are coming together to mobilize resources to help India fight the the deadly virus. Congressman Ro Khanna of California, the Democratic vice chair of the Congressional Caucus on India, told Reuters that Indian American billionaire and Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla and other Indian American tech executives at Google, IBM and Microsoft are working closely with the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India, trying to match Indian hospitals and other facilities with supplies of oxygen and other urgently needed medical equipment.

A group of Indian American doctors has launched a free telemedicine helpline for COVID-19 patients back home. On April 26, President Joe Biden spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, committing that U.S. and India will work closely together in the fight against COVID-19. Pledging his support to the people of India, the president said the U.S. is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics. Since the past few weeks, Indians have taken to social media to alert the world about the situation in India, call out the government for their mismanagement of the crisis, and expressing gratitude for all the aid that’s pouring in.

President Joe Biden

Today, I spoke with Prime Minister @narendramodi and pledged America’s full support to provide emergency assistance and resources in the fight against COVID-19. India was there for us, and we will be there for them.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 26, 2021

Vice President Kamala Devi Harris

The U.S. is working closely with the Indian government to rapidly deploy additional support and supplies during an alarming COVID-19 outbreak. As we provide assistance, we pray for the people of India—including its courageous healthcare workers.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 25, 2021

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.)

We have a moral duty to act. Getting aid to India should be an urgent priority of the Biden Administration. pic.twitter.com/8KTokZRIDs
— Rep. Ro Khanna (@RepRoKhanna) April 26, 2021

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.)

I have urged the Biden Administration to release doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to countries struggling, such as India. The #COVID19 virus doesn’t understand borders, and we need to treat the pandemic response accordingly.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)

COVID doesn’t stop at our border.

We must be doing everything in our power to vaccinate people across America AND do everything possible to help other countries access the tools necessary to fight this pandemic. That’s how we’ll end it.https://t.co/ATSyEbPEzK
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) April 27, 2021

Dr. Céline Gounder, an infectious diseases expert at NYU Grossman School of Medicine

2/ Colleagues and I are putting together guides on how to care for COVID at home (more Indian language translations to come) because the situation is so dire. https://t.co/rM2GUyg39w
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) April 27, 2021

4/ Indian PM Modi must do better. You can’t vaccinate your way out of a surge. Only mitigation measures take effect immediately. Modi must reinstitute masking & social distancing, & this time do so humanely, providing people the social supports they need to weather this crisis.
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) April 27, 2021

5/ The Biden administration must also do better. It announced plans to share up to 60M doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with other countries, once cleared as safe by the FDA.
— Céline Gounder, MD, ScM, FIDSA (@celinegounder) April 27, 2021

Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO, Cisco

I am so saddened by the devastating surge of COVID cases in India. @Cisco is working to provide counseling support, donating to relief efforts & partnering with agencies on the ground to respond. Our prayers are with our many employees & the people of India during this time.
— Chuck Robbins (@ChuckRobbins) April 27, 2021

California Assemblymember Ash Kalra

As India is facing a humanitarian crisis, today, Governor @GavinNewsom announced that California will send lifesaving oxygen equipment to India as that country faces a devastating and fast-spreading surge of COVID-19 cases. Read details here:https://t.co/7p6FabeANk
— Ash Kalra 🌱 (@Ash_Kalra) April 27, 2021

Apple CEO Tim Cook

Amid a devastating rise of COVID cases in India, our thoughts are with the medical workers, our Apple family and everyone there who is fighting through this awful stage of the pandemic. Apple will be donating to support and relief efforts on the ground.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 26, 2021

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the U.S. government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) April 26, 2021

Google CEO Sundar Pichai

Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India. Google & Googlers are providing Rs 135 Crore in funding to @GiveIndia, @UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information.https://t.co/OHJ79iEzZH
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 26, 2021

Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla

Sanjib Guha

Thoughts and prayers with India in these difficult times, hope we can get over the unprecedented tragedies of Covid's second wave soon. Stay strong my beloved country 🇮🇳 ❣️💪
with @SyntheticBots @biopatrika @sadgradgaya
— Sanjib Guha (@SanjibGuha11) April 27, 2021

Suhag A. Shukla

Have been feeling helpless over the suffering due to #CovidIndia. So today on #ChaitraPurnima, performed Satyanarayan Pooja with my parents, shares prasadam, then made a donation to @sewausa. Mask up, stay safe India 🙏 pic.twitter.com/soQSZ7gOsr
— Suhag A. Shukla (@SuhagAShukla) April 27, 2021

Ravinder Singh

We can carry out political autopsy after the #Covid crises is over !!!

Now is the time to save lives !!!#COVID19India #India
— ravinder singh (@RaviSinghKA) April 27, 2021

Thanks modi, now india has become covid hub, no doubt an international shame!

Thanks modi, now india has become covid hub, no doubt an international shame! #FailedPMModi pic.twitter.com/wjwzrBwt4m
— MJ ♥️ (@monishjunaidmj) April 26, 2021

Sama

Fellow Indians have faith in Modi: I predict significant progress will very soon be evident in Covid crisis: World leaders are responding with support to India because Modi's integrity, statesmanship & stewardship of India is hugely admired, our petty local politicians take note
— Sama (@Samanasveda) April 26, 2021

Pratyasha Rath

Literally every foreign rag reporting on the Covid crisis in India, has the image of funeral pyres.
We can pretend like this is nothing. But packaging the trauma of the 'third world', complete with all their exotic rituals, for the consumption of the West, is an old skill set.
— Pratyasha Rath (@pratyasharath) April 26, 2021