Indian-American at Silicon Valley in tune with the voice of America

NEW DELHI: The weather in Silicon Valley is moderate as usual ­ partly sunny and partly cloudy. And the mood among the Indian American community of techies, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists too swings between sombre, introspective and optimistic.

Traditionally, Indian Americans have aligned with the Democrats and so has the state of California. So what made this election different?

"Trump spoke with total abandon at the campaign trail, seemingly from the heart and the message resonated. This is what made the election different, he was unlike any politician that had hit the campaign trail and to an extent it was found refreshing for the voters frustrated with establishment politics," says Rishi Kumar, council member of Saratoga (a city in Silicon Valley).

And even though the 3.2 million strong Indian American community may not really have had a very significant impact on the way the result went, the one aspect of President-Elect Trump's message that resonated with many Indian Americans was that of the tax break which has been part of his campaign talk throughout, according to Kumar.

But for Indians in the Valley who lead businesses and startups, the Trump campaign also appealed because he was seen as being better for business.

"He is a political outsider, but a very successful businessman. Like the rest of America, the mood among Indian Americans in Silicon Valley too is one for change," says Mukesh J Mowji CEO of Valley-based tech startup Pracrea Inc.

And many Indians were very positive about Trump's strong stand against global terrorism. "He was more transparent than his rival Clinton on terrorism of which Indians too have long been a victim of. They want someone in power who will effectively combat the issue," says Vishal Verma, an investor.