FREMONT, Calif. (Diya TV)  — The Bay Area has become the heart of Indian American life in the United States, according to a new report by the San Francisco Chronicle. No city reflects that change more than Fremont, where Indian culture, businesses, and traditions now shape daily life.

Visitors to Fremont see crowded Hindu temples, Indian grocery stores, and restaurants serving regional dishes from across India. Cricket games fill local parks. Public schools teach Hindi. Community centers host cultural events, music performances, and holiday celebrations.

Today, nearly 30% of Fremont residents are of Indian ancestry. That is the highest share of any city in the Bay Area. The rapid growth highlights how immigration and the technology industry have transformed Northern California over the last three decades. The rise of Indian Americans in Silicon Valley also reflects the close connection between the tech boom and skilled immigration.

Indian immigrants arrived in larger numbers after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 removed barriers that had limited Asian immigration. Many early immigrants were engineers, scientists, and doctors. They came to the United States for educational and economic opportunities.

That trend accelerated during the technology boom of the 1990s. Silicon Valley companies needed highly skilled workers. At the same time, India produced thousands of graduates from elite technical schools, including the Indian Institutes of Technology. Many Indian immigrants entered the country through H-1B visas. They helped power the growth of major technology companies across the Bay Area.

Today, Indian Americans hold some of the region’s most influential leadership positions. Those leaders include Sundar Pichai, Vinod Khosla, and Neal Mohan. Indian Americans have also gained political influence. Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan immigrated from Punjab. Bay Area voters also elected Ro Khanna to Congress. Across cities including San Jose, Cupertino, and Livermore, Indian Americans have built strong cultural and economic communities.

Indian traditions now play a visible role across the region. Families gather for Holi celebrations filled with music and colored powder. Sikh temples welcome worshippers for langar, a shared community meal. Seniors attend Hindi music events at community centers. Many Indian Americans say the growing population has created a stronger sense of identity and belonging.

“Before, it was more, ‘Keep your head down, do your work,’” Salwan said. “Now, we have temples, gurdwaras, masjids, community centers, leaders, CEOs, and we see elected officials who look like ourselves.”

The community itself remains highly diverse. Indian Americans in the Bay Area come from different states, religions, and language groups. Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Christian communities all have a presence in the region. Restaurants and markets reflect that diversity. Residents can find Hyderabadi biryani, Gujarati snacks, Maharashtrian dishes, and South Indian specialties throughout Fremont and nearby cities.

Despite the community’s success, many Indian Americans now worry about the future. President Donald Trump and other political leaders have criticized H-1B visas and immigration policies. Some immigrants say anti-immigrant rhetoric has increased hostility toward foreign workers, especially Indians in the technology industry.

At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence raise concerns about future tech jobs. Many Indian Americans built successful careers in software engineering and information technology. Changes in the industry could affect those opportunities. India’s own economic growth has also changed migration patterns. Stronger job markets and expanding technology sectors in cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad now encourage some skilled workers to stay in India instead of moving to the United States.

Experts say those shifts could affect the Bay Area economy, which depends heavily on international talent. Still, many Indian Americans remain optimistic about the future. They point to the community’s educational achievements, business success, and growing political influence. For older immigrants like retired pulmonologist Satia, the American dream still holds meaning.

“Everything was evidence-based,” Satia said of the United States. “It was a very progressive, unbiased country. They were helping the whole world.”

As Silicon Valley changes, the Indian American community continues to shape the culture, economy, and identity of the Bay Area.