Give and Take Help on the Eve of Juneteenth

In the month of Juneteenth, let us get back to the noble virtue of give and take – helping others and receiving help. Let us first look at how I am receiving help. As I mentioned already, for a small person like me, living in the most developed and wealthiest nation in the world is not an easy and simple thing. It requires helping hands along the path to keep me afloat. There is no bigger example than my organization helping me and supporting my cause. I will leave about what I did to Infosys but as a matured person I need to look at what Infosys did to me. From this perspective, it is decent help rendered to me. Simply, without Infosys, I wouldn’t have been in U.S. and my story of last three years would not have taken shape at all. This is the bottom line.  

If I go into detailed breakdown, I need to go back to the timeline of 2018-21. I applied for H1 transfer before joining Infosys in 2019 through another company. I need to pay small amount (less than a lakh) for evaluations etc. which I paid from my credit card. The company bore the remaining expenses and applied for my H1 transfer but it was unfortunately rejected. As a result, I lost the money. After a year, I was engaged and got busy. I never had any intention to travel back to U.S. I took a small loan for my marriage and a person took money from me through a loan and didn’t return, kind of a fraud. As a result, I had these loans piling up and living with some difficulty on the just-enough salary. Where will I even dream of returning to U.S., leave alone making it a reality with my financial status. At that time, through a random call, I was told I can consider for H1 transfer through Infosys. I knew the company would bear all the expenses for visa filing etc. and it will not stretch my already stretched finances. I went ahead with this suggestion – got the petition filed, visa approved and stamped, found project, flight ticket booked and landed in US, all through the company. Once in U.S., there are other challenges that came along – I was relieved from project 4 times, had to change the client once and need to file for my extension to stay in this country. At all these times, I was immediately found another project, another client and filed for my extension to keep the flight in air for so long. Everyone says I stayed in US for three years, but it is through tremendous support system and lot of efforts from me, the story happened as it is, and the rest became history, at least for me. I get tears in my eyes by looking at the help a poor person got from this great company which is in pursuit just to support and help me. Of course, I equally rise to the occasion and gave my everything as well and sometimes see more business sense in its reaching out. Nevertheless, looking from my side of what the company did for me – it is a lot. This is the bottom line – my story of coming and working in U.S. for so long wouldn’t have taken shape at all without this entity. In a sense, we all are indebted to this great organization. For all that Infosys did to me, I will leave to your imagination the greatness this company need to attain in coming years to create many more stories like mine. 

When we think about the success stories that shape modern India, Infosys Limited stands out as a true testament to the country’s evolution. It all started back in 1981 when seven engineers pooled together just ₹10,000 to launch the company. Fast forward to today, and Infosys has grown into a global tech powerhouse, racking up over $18 billion in revenue and employing more than 300,000 people across six continents. But Infosys is more than just impressive numbers or a vast presence around the globe. Its journey from a small startup in Pune to a major player on both the Bombay Stock Exchange and NASDAQ mirrors India’s own transformation from a closed, socialist economy to an open, knowledge-driven force on the world stage. 

Infosys highlights the importance of meritocracy, which aligns with India’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for everyone. The company’s tech innovations showcase how India is stepping into the spotlight as a knowledge-driven economy. Plus, its corporate governance practices show how India is connecting with global standards. 

What stands out the most is how Infosys demonstrated that Indian companies can thrive in international markets—not by relying on protection or subsidies, but through hard work and creativity. This success not only boosted national pride but also changed how the world views India. 

Infosys’s journey resonates deeply within Indian society as it reflects the dreams of an independent India—where hard work is recognized, opportunities are accessible to all, and the country can stand tall among the world’s leading nations. By making these dreams a reality for countless employees and shareholders, Infosys turned into more than just a successful business; it became a symbol of a thriving nation. 

As India moves closer to becoming a developed economy, the Infosys approach—focusing on talent, embracing global opportunities, upholding ethical practices, and using technology to drive change—remains incredibly relevant. The rise of Infosys didn’t just mark India’s growth; it played a crucial role in making that growth possible. The connection between corporate success and national progress makes the Infosys story a powerful metaphor for India’s remarkable journey today. If I represent India on its face value, it is due to this organization that my face still looks bright and the country shining. 

This is all about the help I received. Now let us look at the help rendered. After coming to US, I am serving as a volunteer in a temple doing seva and packing food for a non-profit. These are the activities I could set my foot in but other than that it is all pretty calm. If not with helping hands, I am praying with my lips and occasionally posting in this space about the great strides the minorities and backward communities in this country need to make.  

After more than 150 years of setting the blacks free in this country on a Juneteenth day in 1865, we need to gauge at where these people stand in comparison to the rest. We need to look at ways to create equality in this nation through favoring blacks in every way possible. It is a shame that even after 150 years, the country could make little progress in reaching the land of complete and absolute equality. Just consider this - the median white household holds approximately $285,000 in wealth compared to $44,890 for Black households, creating a 6.35:1 ratio. This 6:1 ratio simply tells an average white is 6 times richer than an average black in the most developed and progressive nation. The majority are becoming rich, and the poor minority are stuck in cycles of poverty even after a great black presidency a decade ago. There is no effort to bring up the poor African Americans or make them feel better. 

We can look at the target to effectively bridge the gap. Achieving an aspirational 3:1 household income goal would require Black median wealth to reach approximately $95,000 by 2035 which is a safe place to be in. Currently, Black homeownership sits at 42%, creating a 31 percentage point gap with white homeownership at 73%. This represents the largest component of the racial wealth gap, as home equity typically comprises 60-70% of middle-class wealth. Reaching the 65% black homeownership is a practical aspiration we can have as a famed nation. Currently 26.2% of Black adults hold bachelor's degrees compared to the national average of 34.8%. While this represents significant improvement from 19.3% in 2013, substantial gaps remain. A goal to reach 40% of black adults holding college degrees require addressing college affordability, affirmative action, completion rates, and career preparation. Black-owned businesses represent only 2.4% of all businesses despite Black Americans comprising 13.6% of the population. Business ownership creates wealth, employment opportunities within Black communities, and economic self-determination and there is much to be desired in this space. Lastly, Black Americans have a life expectancy approximately 4-6 years shorter than white Americans, with significant disparities in maternal mortality, infant mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. 

These indicators are all connected in significant ways. When people achieve better education, it often leads to owning businesses and earning higher incomes, which in turn helps them buy homes and build wealth. Similarly, good health outcomes contribute to success in education and the economy. To make real progress, we need to come up with coordinated strategies that take these connections into account instead of tackling each issue separately. 

The ambitious timelines set for 2030-2035 highlight the urgency of addressing ongoing disparities and the understanding that making real change requires consistent and focused efforts across various areas at the same time. 

What the US has done is widen this gap effectively and further raise inequality in recent years through questionable policies. Affirmative action has been significantly rolled back in the U.S. in recent years. The Supreme Court ruled in June 2023 that colleges can no longer consider race in admissions, leading to a decline in diversity at many universities. Additionally, in January 2025, President Trump signed an executive order revoking Executive Order 11246, which had required federal contractors to engage in affirmative action efforts. This means that government contractors are no longer required to maintain affirmative action programs for women and minorities. Further, in April 2025, the White House demanded that Harvard eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in hiring, admissions, and campus programs, leading to a face-off with the revered university in principles of promoting black lives and other minorities. The rollback has led to concerns about declining Black student enrollment and broader racial equity issues in places that matter. Instead of doing these questionable actions, bring a national policy that effectively brings blacks on par with other groups in this nation which would be a great, fitting tribute to president Lincoln. 

At the heights of trying to make America great, it isn’t remotely possible without removing the barriers for black inclusion and progress. Let me tell how an explosive framework for Black progress could look like similar to Lincoln’s efforts. The President could invoke emergency powers to establish a National Wealth Equity Commission, similar to how Lincoln used wartime powers. This would bypass congressional gridlock and create immediate momentum for structural change. A federal "Wealth Reconstruction Program" providing - $50,000 direct payments to Black families earning under $100,000 annually, Federal backing for Black homeownership with zero-down mortgages, Seed capital grants for Black-owned businesses, Free higher education at HBCUs and community colleges can be setup immediately. Lincoln freed enslaved people but left them economically vulnerable. A modern policy could complete that unfinished work by addressing the economic legacy of slavery. This can be the biggest Juneteenth help to our black brothers in the greatest land of opportunity.