Overview
A recent report by Indiaspora finds that the 35-million-strong global Indian diaspora is ready to invest in India’s future growth, bringing capital, capability, and credibility as true partners in India’s journey to 2047
In July 2026, Columbia University professor Anil K. Lalwani will return to India, a country he left as a child, not as a visitor, but as a builder of its future. The Indian American physician and researcher is set to join the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, as the inaugural dean of its newly established Gangwal School of Medical Sciences & Technology, marking a pivotal moment both in his career and in India’s evolving scientific landscape.
Lalwani brings decades of experience from some of the United States’ most respected institutions. A leading authority in hearing disorders and surgical innovation, he has held senior roles at New York University and the University of California, San Francisco, and currently serves as a professor of otolaryngology and mechanical engineering at Columbia University. There, he also holds key leadership positions, including Associate Dean for Student Research, Vice Chair for Research, and Medical Director at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Lalwani’s move to IIT Kanpur is more than a personal milestone—it reflects a growing movement among Indian-origin leaders who are choosing to reconnect with their roots and actively shape India’s future.
This broader shift is captured in a recent report, India and its Diaspora: Partners in Progress, released by the U.S.-based nonprofit Indiaspora in March 2026. The report highlights the immense potential of a global Indian community that now exceeds 35 million people—the largest diaspora in the world. More importantly, it underscores a growing willingness among this community to engage with India not just emotionally, but strategically.
At the report’s launch at the 2026 Indiaspora Forum in Bangalore in March, founder M. R. Rangaswami noted the significance of this moment: “In 1991, India opened its doors to the world. Today, the world is knocking on India’s door. At this inflection point, India has the opportunity to unlock the power of a 35-million-strong diaspora, bringing capital, capability, and credibility as true partners in India’s journey to 2047.”
IIT Kanpur’s new medical school stands as a tangible example of this collaboration in action. Conceived as a first-of-its-kind initiative integrating technology with healthcare, it has drawn strong support from Indian American leaders, entrepreneurs, and alumni. Among its key backers are alumnus Rakesh Gangwal, the Indian American co-founder of IndiGo and former chairman of US Airways Group, whose contribution to the project exceeds ₹100 crore (more than $10 million). Alongside him, fellow Indian American alumni and members of the Founder’s Circle, including Muktesh (Micky) Pant, Dr. Dev Joneja, and Anil Bansal, demonstrate how deeply the diaspora is investing in India’s next phase of growth.
A Force for Good
The energy behind such efforts was evident at the 2026 Indiaspora Forum, which aimed to deepen diaspora engagement across sectors ranging from business and innovation to culture and philanthropy.
Indiaspora’s EVP and Chief Engagement Officer, Shoba Viswanathan, a co-author of the report, told India Currents in an exclusive interview that the goal is to bring together influential individuals who are not only successful, but also motivated to collaborate, shape policy, and contribute meaningfully on a global scale—a collective “force for good.”
“This is an amazing opportunity to bring our community together,” she said. “The idea is that people with a great degree of influence and professional success, who are interested in connecting with others around the world, influencing policy, and taking thoughtful positions to set an agenda for global priorities.”
The numbers tell a powerful story
Drawing on surveys of more than 200 diaspora members across 24 countries, along with insights from nonprofits and global leaders, the report reveals a strong sense of confidence and ambition. Many respondents envision an India that, by 2047, ranks among the world’s leading economies, drives global innovation, reduces inequality, and ensures a high quality of life.
The scale of this opportunity is striking. Since 1990, the Indian diaspora has nearly tripled in size, spreading across more than 200 countries. Its economic footprint is equally significant: The Indian diaspora earns over $730 billion annually, with remittances to India reaching a record $138 billion—the highest in the world.
“In the 3 seconds it takes to read this sentence, $13,088 in remittances flow from overseas Indians to their homeland,” the report notes.
More than 70% of respondents expect their remittances to remain steady or increase, while about 60% are already investing in India across real estate, public markets, and other assets. Of these, over 80% plan to continue investing in the next two years.
These flows have a direct human impact. In states like Kerala, remittances do more than cover daily expenses—they help families build assets, reduce debt, and invest in the future.
The ‘Wow’ Factor
The sheer scale of diaspora wealth and its impact came as a surprise to Viswanathan.
“To have rigorous research indicate the huge wealth and asset holding of the diaspora crosses 730 million …with assets it crosses a billion,” Viswanathan said, describing “moments of eye-opening reality” that triggered a “wow” response.
“These are not small numbers. We are sitting atop this incredible potential on how to harness it and how to be intentional about it… It’s not just hype—it’s true!”
How the Diaspora Engages
Yet the diaspora’s role extends far beyond financial contributions. Across industries, Indian-origin leaders are shaping global systems and institutions. In healthcare, figures like Srinivas “Bobby” Mukkamala and Mumtaz Patel are influencing policy and practice, while executives such as Vasant Narasimhan and Reshma Kewalramani are driving breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. In technology, Indian professionals play key roles in advancing cutting-edge work at companies like Google DeepMind, Open AI, Microsoft, and Meta.
Chad Kymal, CEO and founder of Michigan-based consultancy Omnex and a former GM engineer, opened an office in India 30 years ago to develop management system products in the automotive industry; currently, he has over 200 software engineers developing quality management systems software for the Indian automotive industry.
“When we went to India, we went to launch the Mahindra-Ford joint venture in Chennai. We were helping launch American-quality standards called QS 9000 – called IATF 16949 today,” says Kymal, whose company, Omnex, helped write the defining standards for quality for Ford, Chrysler, and GM in the US in the 1990s, now an international automotive standard.
The Indian automotive industry relied on Omnex to develop its overall management systems, says Kymal, “everything from policies and procedures to work instructions.” Over the years, his team has worked with an array of Indian companies – including TVS, Maruti, the Rane Group, the DPS Group, and Tata, first with management systems and now with their software. “India is a place with great opportunity,” he adds. “There is so much growth that is going to happen, and so much investment, that the Indian market is going to go places.”
Leaders like these bring more than capital to the Indian ecosystem —they offer global perspective, expertise, and networks that can accelerate India’s development.
Reconnecting with India
What distinguishes this moment is not just success abroad, but a growing desire to reconnect with India in meaningful ways. For many, the motivation is deeply personal, rooted in identity, family, and a sense of responsibility. For others, it is driven by opportunity: the recognition that India itself has transformed into a hub where globally competitive companies and innovations can be built.
Business leaders like Debjit Chaudhuri exemplify this shift. His engagement with Indian startups goes “well beyond providing capital.” He mentors founders, builds networks, and helps position companies, “so founders have the support and networks they need to succeed globally.”
This kind of involvement reflects a broader trend: diaspora members acting as bridges between India and the world, facilitating knowledge exchange, partnerships, and skill transfer.
Reflecting on this moment, Prof. Mohanbir Sawhney, Clinical Professor of Marketing, Kellogg School of Management, at Northwestern University, observed: “The Indian diaspora has reached an unprecedented level of accomplishment… Its capabilities, networks, and capital have matured to a point where meaningful contributions to India are now possible. At the same time, India has evolved rapidly… This convergence has created a natural moment for deeper engagement.”
Viswanathan described the findings as revelatory: “The Indian diaspora has a valid energy to harness. I think there is so much desire to give back. Why not make it easier and simpler to do it?”
“It’s all about the possibilities.”
Indian Roots
For many, engagement with India is deeply personal. Sixty percent of respondents cited reconnecting with their roots as their primary motivation, followed by family ties and the desire to make a meaningful impact.
“Our Indian roots matter,” says Chad Kymal, who left India at the age of 15 to immigrate to the US with his family. “I am an American, but I would not have gone to India if I did not understand it, if not for those roots.”
For Nisha Jagtiani, Group Director at Landmark Group, the connection runs deep:
“It was deeply personal to both my parents. They always knew we wanted to build a business in India, and that connection guided every decision we made.”
Viswanathan echoed that sentiment. “Every diaspora leader we spoke to has deep-rooted investment in India’s success. There is a desire to be part of an inclusive India’s growth. There is a collective momentum around some of this.”
Looking Ahead
The Indiaspora report acknowledges that challenges remain. Structural barriers and inefficiencies still limit deeper engagement. However, the report offers practical, solution-oriented recommendations, drawing on insights from over 200 leaders across 24 countries, to strengthen collaboration between policymakers and diaspora leaders.
What emerges is a clear picture: today’s Indian diaspora is not keeping its distance. It is actively participating in India’s growth story, bringing capital, expertise, technology partnerships, and global networks.
As former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has noted, the diaspora represents a strategic asset. “If this global Indian experience can be leveraged, India’s momentum can be sustained and even accelerated.”
In that sense, Prof. Anil Lalwani’s return is more than an individual journey. It reflects a larger movement, one defined not just by giving back, but by building forward.