Ahmedabad: Few in New York's Gujarati community were familiar with Kashyap ‘Kash' Patel and his family until news broke on Saturday of his appointment as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief during Donald Trump's second term as the US president.
Patel has roots in Vadodara and represents a rare "twice-migrated" success story for Gujaratis. Patel's parents were Indian-origin residents of East Africa — his father from Uganda and his mother from Tanzania. Fleeing anti-Indian persecution in the 1970s, the family first moved to Canada and later settled in the US. Patel, born in New York, grew up in Queens, completed his schooling there, and attended college in Richmond, Virginia. Now retired, his parents divide their time between the US and Gujarat.
Community leaders say the Patel family maintained a low profile despite New York's vibrant Gujarati diaspora. "His father initially ventured into the motel business before working in the private sector. There is little record of the family participating in major gatherings," said a community member.
The community members said that his appointment will put a sharp focus on Indians in the US, and a lot is riding on key officials to steer the second term of Trump. "Relationship with India will be a key point for us, and we hope that the positive image of the community will help the next generation's foray into public life," said a community member.
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