Global Indian

Global Indian entrepreneurs and business leaders have altered the map of international business with their remarkable influence. The United States now has 16 CEOs of Indian heritage leading top Fortune 500 companies. This impressive statistic shows just one aspect of Indian diaspora's growing economic power worldwide.

India has become the world's fastest-growing major economy in the last decade, and its ambitious global citizens have extended their influence way beyond the country's borders. Global Indians' remittances reached USD129 billion in 2024, which accounts for over 3 percent of the country's GDP. The Indian diaspora ranks among the world's largest, and their entrepreneurial success shines in global business hubs. Dubai's startup ecosystem proves this point—Indians have founded almost one in three registered startups there. The number of India's high-net-worth individuals has doubled to 800,000 in the last decade and experts project this number to reach 1.6 million by 2027.

Standard Chartered, as the oldest and largest international bank in India, has witnessed Global Indians' incredible achievements both at home and worldwide while connecting possibilities to prosperity for clients for over 165 years. More than 35 million people make up the Indian diaspora worldwide in 2024, making it the world's largest diaspora population. These communities have grown into a unique "Global Indian" identity that goes beyond borders while keeping strong ties to their cultural roots. Harvard University Professor and Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen described the Indian identity perfectly when he called it not just a "surviving identity but an absorbing identity". This shows how well Indians adapt and thrive in different settings.

You can see this absorbing nature in formal categories like Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Indian Americans now form the second-largest immigrant group in the United States with 4.2 million people. Even when spread across the globe, these communities have kept their identity and cultural connections remarkably strong. Cultural preservation is the life-blood of the Global Indian identity. People celebrate festivals and rituals enthusiastically to keep their cultural connections alive. Celebrations like Diwali, Holi, Eid, and Pongal bring communities together in countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Gulf nations. These festivals mean more than just ceremonies - they carry deep cultural stories and religious meaning.

Indian food traditions play a vital part in keeping culture alive abroad. The distinct flavors and spices of Indian cuisine have done more than just feed people - they've introduced the world to India's rich food heritage. British tourist brochures now promote curry as authentic British food, showing how Indian food has become the most popular ethnic cuisine in Britain. Keeping languages alive is another significant part of preserving culture. Community schools teach Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, and many other Indian languages, which families also speak at home. But a 2021 Census showed fewer people speaking local languages in big cities, while more people now speak English. This shows how diaspora communities are finding new ways to balance their languages.

The Global Indian identity carefully balances old and new. A recent survey found that over 60% of young urban Indians prefer Western clothes daily. Yet when the 'Vocal for Local' campaign started in 2021, local product sales jumped by 25%. This shows people still care about their traditions. Young people in the diaspora show this balance clearly. First-generation immigrants often hold tight to their culture to feel at home in new places. Their children and grandchildren create mixed identities more easily. They move smoothly between different cultural worlds, helped by technology - the Internet and Mobile Association of India reports that 70% of Indians used the internet in 2023.

NRIs find special meaning in this dual identity. The Global Indian identity has ended up representing a dynamic mix of tradition and new ideas. Global Indians keep their heritage values and practices while taking part in the wider world. This creates rich cultural exchanges that benefit both their original homeland and their new countries.