IndiaCon At USC: Aiming To Bridge The India-US Corridor
Photo: Student leaders and USC officials who spearheaded IndiaCon.
India-West Staff Reporter
LOS ANGELES, CA – IndiaCon, a student-led initiative, held at the University of Southern California attracted over 250 attendees, including entrepreneurs, investors, policy experts, professionals, and students, with the single aim of exploring how the economic, technological, and cultural ties between India and the US could be strengthened.
The event, held on January 25, featured a series of engaging sessions that shed light on India’s rapid growth and its global influence across various sectors.
One notable discussion, “India’s Leap Forward,” saw India’s Consul General in San Francisco, Dr. Srikar Reddy and business leader Gunjan Bagla delve into opportunities for collaboration between the two nations.
Following this, “Generics to Global Health” brought together Vik Thapar, Ray Mathoda, and Neil Badlani to discuss mutual learnings from the healthcare models of India and the U.S. Mathoda remarked, “If the goal of health care is to keep people healthy and not treat and monetize those who are sick, then the U.S. probably has a lot to learn from Indian culture and traditional practices.”
The conference also highlighted India’s transformation into a global innovation hub and “Back Office to Innovation Hub” panel featured insights from investors Sumant Mandal and Kavitha Mariappan, with Mandal sharing cultural shifts driving entrepreneurship: “Not too long ago I had to convince the parents of one of my founders in India that their son’s marital prospects would not be hampered by embarking on this path.”
Addressing the immigrant experience, the “Visa Hurdles to Career Triumphs” panel offered personal stories from Navneet Chugh, Kanchi Nayaka, and Anuj Nadadur. Chugh humorously noted, “Some of my wealthiest clients revoke their US citizenship for tax reasons. I pray that you all don’t need to run the rat race for a green card in the first place and leapfrog to that stage.”
Entertainment and sports were also on the agenda. “South Asian Women in Entertainment” featured industry insiders Bhavani Rao, Diya Heble, Sujata Murthy, Shireen Razack, and Patricia Isaac, who reflected on challenges and opportunities for representation in Hollywood. Meanwhile, “Cricket’s American Innings” saw Nisarg Patel and Ravi Timbawala discuss the growing popularity of cricket in the U.S., with Patel stating, “For U.S. cricket to become popular, we need to win titles. And the capability to do so comes when players can commit themselves to the sport and make a living through it.”
IndiaCon was the brainchild of USC students Tejaswa Gavankar and Raghav Mahajan, who aimed to create a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on India’s global influence. Gavankar shared, “Since coming to the U.S., I’ve been fascinated by the immense success of the Indian diaspora, but I often felt that conversations about India’s future were happening in silos. I wanted to change that by creating a space where business, policy, and culture could intersect—and that’s how IndiaCon was born.”
The conference also introduced the IndiaCon Scholarship, a $2,000 award recognizing students committed to advancing the South Asian community while excelling academically and professionally. The inaugural recipient, Nikhil Chaudhari, a biomedical engineering PhD student at USC, was honored for his dedication to these values.
Looking ahead, Mahajan emphasized the importance of engaging with India’s growth, stating, “Even though many of us have found success in the US, it’s important to recognize that India is growing at three times the pace of the US. Whether it’s your next business idea, career move, or investment opportunity, keeping an eye on India is not just prudent—it’s essential.”
The student organizers have pledged that IndiaCon will be an annual event focused on fostering dialogue and evolving dynamics of the US-India partnership.
