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In the recently-held US midterm elections, Indian-American Democrat Pia Dandiya created history by snatching a Florida seat which the Republicans had redrawn to favour their party.
Now, in her first interview with an Indian news channel since her victory from the state's 22nd Congressional District, Congresswoman-elect Pia Dandiya spoke exclusively to India Today about her journey before and after the election, rising anti-Indian hate, the Samosa Caucus, her Jaipur roots and her message to Indian-American women.
“Don't wait for someone else to choose you. Choose yourself and work your heart out,” the Indian-American educator said.
For Dandiya, the first six days after the election had been a whirlwind of excitement, emotion and new beginnings. Walking through the corridors of the Capitol and stepping onto the House floor, the Congresswoman-elect said, still feels surreal.
But behind the celebrations lies an 18-month campaign marked by determination, relentless outreach and a willingness to challenge the odds.
Born and raised in South Florida, Dandiya entered the congressional race without an established political background. She faced a formidable challenge in a district redrawn in a way that appeared to favour the Republican incumbent.
Initially relatively unknown, she had to build her campaign from the ground up, earning voters' trust one conversation at a time.
She said the values instilled in her while growing up in an Indian family helped her navigate the difficult campaign.
“A core Indian value that we have been raised with is to approach everything with excellence and to fall down nine times and get up 10,” she said. “I think that grit is inherent to who we are as a broader Indian community.”
That philosophy, she said, had guided her through different stages of her life — from securing admission to Harvard University to starting a high school in Harlem at the age of 28, where she said every student went on to college, and eventually taking on the challenge of running for Congress.
AN UPHILL CAMPAIGN, ONE CONVERSATION AT A TIME
While speaking to India Today, Dandiya acknowledged that her campaign began with significant challenges. Without a political track record or widespread name recognition, she knew she would have to prove herself to voters.
For 18 months, she travelled across the district, meeting residents, listening to their concerns and building what she described as a grassroots movement bigger than any one individual.
“We were going to work our hardest, we were going to defeat the odds, and we were going to see what amazing things we could accomplish together,” she recalled.
She said the victory was not the result of a single moment but of sustained effort over a year and a half.
With the campaign behind her and a seat in Congress ahead, Dandiya said she intends to carry the same approach into public office.
“As I used to say with my students, the reward for hard work is more hard work,” she told India Today. “I'm excited now to apply a new level of hard work in the US Congress.”
PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION: DANDIYA ON ANTI-INDIAN HATE
Dandiya also spoke about a growing concern within the Indian American community: the rise in anti-Indian and anti-Hindu hostility.
She said that while she had long spoken about the Indian American community's legacy and contributions to the US, the current climate had made another responsibility increasingly important — protecting and preserving that legacy.
“When I kicked off this race, I would talk so much with Indian American communities about how this was a core part of our community's legacy in the US,” she said.
“And that remains true. And yet 18 months later, there's another side of that coin, which is that it's not just about legacy. It is about protection and preservation.”
Dandiya believes political representation is essential to addressing these challenges.
As the first Indian-American woman elected to the US Congress, she said her position would allow her to bring the community's concerns directly to the table.
Her commitment, however, extends beyond the Indian-American community.
She stressed the importance of speaking out whenever any community faces discrimination and supporting efforts, including legislation, to ensure safety and equal protection for all Americans.
“You have to have those people around the table to stand up for that community and then stand up for any other communities who may be facing those challenges,” she said.
SAMOSA CAUCUS IN CAPITOL HILL
Dandiya also spoke about joining the growing group of Indian-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill, popularly known as the Samosa Caucus.
She has already begun building relationships with fellow freshman Congressman Amish Shah, describing their shared arrival in Congress as an exciting new chapter.
For Dandiya, the importance of Indian-American representation lies not only in winning elections but also in helping the next generation of leaders succeed once they reach public office.
DANDIYA'S MESSAGE FOR INDIAN-AMERICAN WOMEN
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the exclusive India Today interview came when Dandiya was asked what she would tell Indian American women who looked at her victory and wondered whether they, too, could run for office.
Her answer was direct.
“You should be scared of no one, and you should wait for no one's permission,” she said.
She urged women not to wait for political parties, established leaders or anyone else to select them as candidates. Instead, she wants them to believe in their own abilities and take the first step.
“Don't wait for someone else to choose you. Choose yourself and work your heart out,” she said.
Dandiya acknowledged that Indian-American women are often raised to follow a structured path, work hard, do the right things and meet expectations. While she believes those values are important, she said women must also learn to take risks and trust their own potential.
“As Indian-American women, we are so used to wanting to do the right thing and complete the right action steps towards a goal. And we absolutely should do that. But also, at some point, we have to bet on ourselves.”
As she said in her victory speech, she wants to show young girls that “there is no limit to what you can accomplish in this amazing country.”
FAMILY VICTORY ROOTED IN AMERICAN DREAM
For Dandiya, the election was also deeply personal. Her parents were involved throughout the campaign, sharing in the challenges and celebrations of a journey that represented much more than a political achievement.
“My parents are really proud of what we have accomplished. And the truth is that we did it together,” she said.
Her parents, she added, understood from the beginning what her candidacy could represent — the opportunity for a first-generation Indian American to reach the highest levels of American political life.
“We are all so grateful and proud that this is the next chapter for the Dandiya family here in the US,” she said.
Her decision to run was also driven by the future she wants for her children, including her son.
JAIPUR CELEBRATES HER VICTORY
The excitement surrounding Dandiya's election has extended beyond South Florida and Washington, reaching her family's ancestral roots in Jaipur.
She said she had spent much of the past week connecting with extended family members in India through video calls and sharing the excitement of her historic victory with relatives who followed her campaign from afar.
The messages of congratulations, she said, had been heartfelt and reflected how deeply invested her extended family had been in her journey.
Their support also reminded her that pursuing a dream is rarely an individual journey, but one sustained by encouragement from family, friends and communities across borders.
“It is just another reminder of how much encouragement and support we have across the entire world when any one of us is trying to pursue a big dream,” she said.
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