The Pioneering Journey of the First Indian Settlers in the United States

The first recorded Indian to permanently settle in the United States is generally recognized as Baba Gurmukh Singh who arrived in 1899. He was a Sikh immigrant from Punjab and found refuge in California. However, earlier instances of Indian presence in the U.S. exist, marking the beginnings of a rich and diverse Indian diaspora that has continued to flourish over the past century and a half.

Indians in the United States: Much Earlier than We Thought

Contrary to popular belief, Indians have been visiting and residing in the United States for much longer than previously thought. The presence of Indians in the U.S. can be traced back to as early as 1635, with an Indian visitor traveling to the United States to promote trade links. The first confirmed presence of an Indian in the U.S. was in 1790 when an individual from Madras arrived on a British ship, further expanding the historical timeline of Indian contributions to American society.

Significant Waves of Immigration

Following the Luce–Celler Act of 1946, which restored naturalization rights to Indian Americans, significant waves of Indian immigrants began arriving in the United States. From the early 1890s to the 1910s, the first significant wave of Indian immigrants, primarily Sikh farmers and laborers from the Punjab region, started settling in California. They landed on the shores of Angel Island via Hong Kong and found employment on farms and in lumber mills in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Among noteworthy early immigrants were A.K. Mozumdar, who in 1913 became the first Indian-born person to earn U.S. citizenship, and Dhan Gopal Mukerji, who in 1914 received a graduate degree from Stanford University and later won the Newbery Medal in 1928, becoming the first successful Indian-born man of letters in the United States. Additionally, Private Raghunath N. Banawalkar, the first Indian-American to be recruited or drafted by the U.S. Army in 1918, served courageously in World War I and was awarded the Purple Heart.

Challenges and Continuous Progress

However, the journey of Indian immigrants was not without challenges. The Barred Zone Act of 1917, passed by Congress with a two-thirds majority despite President Woodrow Wilson's veto, barred Asians including Indians from immigrating to the U.S., heightening the difficulties faced by these individuals. Furthermore, anti-miscegenation laws led to significant controversies, such as the case of an Indian farmer, B.K. Singh, marrying the 16-year-old daughter of a white American tenant in Arizona.

Notable Achievements and Continued Growth

Despite these challenges, the 20th century witnessed numerous achievements by Indian immigrants. Yellapragada Subbarao, arriving in Boston in 1922, discovered the vital role of phosphocreatine and ATP in muscular activity, contributing significantly to the field of biochemistry. Meanwhile, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United v. Bhagat Singh Thind in 1923 that Indians were ineligible for citizenship, Bhagat Singh Thind later became a citizen and paved the way for further Indian contributions to the U.S.

The landscape changed dramatically with the passage of the Luce–Celler Act in 1946, allowing Indian immigrants to immigrate and naturalize. This led to a surge in the Indian immigrant population, including notable figures such as Clare Boothe Luce and Emanuel Celler, who played key roles in introducing the 1965 Immigration Act, which further opened the doors to massive immigration from the Indian subcontinent and other regions.

Conclusion

The journey of the first Indian settlers in the United States has been marked by perseverance, adaptation, and significant achievements. The contributions of these pioneers have shaped the fabric of American society, and their legacy continues to grow with each subsequent wave of immigration.