The four million strong Indian diaspora, billed as the most educated and most affluent of all ethnic communities in America and recognized for their phenomenal "rise" in all spheres of American society and public life, came in for fulsome mention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had meetings in Washington with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a person of Indian descent (her mother came to the US from Chennai) who has ascended to the second highest office in the nation. 

At the Biden-Modi meeting at the White House, the first in-person meeting between them, both leaders spoke of the Indian diaspora, another factor that is binding the two nations together.

India-US relations are “about family ties, including four million Indian-Americans who make the United States stronger every single day,” Biden said.

Modi said, “You mentioned, there are more than four million Indian Americans who are participating in the journey of progress of America. When I look at the importance of this decade, and the role that is going to be played by this talent of the Indian Americans, I find that the people-to-people talent will play a greater role and Indian talent will be a full partner in this relationship. And I see that your contribution is going to be very important in this.”

Earlier, on arrival in Washington DC where he was enthusiastically greeted by a crowd of Indian Americans, Modi had tweeted: "Grateful to the Indian community in Washington DC for the warm welcome. Our diaspora is our strength. It is commendable how the Indian diaspora has distinguished itself across the world."

Biden has had a very old relationship with the Indian American community and his administration is said to have more Indian-Americans in the White House and in Senate-confirmed positions across federal agencies than any presidential administration in the past — about 70 appointed or nominated officials, according to Indiaspora, a leading advocacy group for the community.