Guess what? Virginia ain’t just for lovers no more. It is also for Indian Americans. Well, at least on January 26th of every year:

Virginia will celebrate January 26 as Indian-American Day in recognition of the community’s contribution to the State.

A legislation to this effect was recently passed by its legislature.

”Over the past year, I have come to realize how much the Indian-American community contributes to the Commonwealth. In appreciation of their efforts and all they have done for the Commonwealth and its people, it is my pleasure to announce the creation of Indian-American Day in Virginia,” Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling said. [Link]

Let me rephrase that quote by Bolling so that it is slightly more honest. “Over the past year, I have come to realize that you shouldn’t refer to brown people as Macacas but rather, you should make dosas with them.”

Although this is bound to upset some of our more sensitive readers, I do wish they had been more inclusive and called it “Macaca-American Day” instead. The way I see it, we have nearly 10 months to plan. How are we going to celebrate our own day?

“The face of Virginia is changing and the immigrant community is a powerful force in urban and suburban Virginia,” Bolling said, adding that he wanted to do everything he could to reach out to the immigrant community and build a ‘better’ Virginia.

“During my campaign for Lieutenant Governor I made a promise to the Indian-American community. I promised to do my best to develop closer ties with them and involve them more in the leadership of Virginia,” he said. [Link]

And speaking of overrunning states, here is this interesting tidbit from Texas:

India House Inc. received a $1 million donation today at its foundation-stone laying ceremony, marking the beginning of construction on the southwest Houston community center…

[Houston Mayor Bill] White said he wanted to offer thanks on behalf of all Houstonians for what “the Indian-American community does here in this great city and for what it offers in additional services … for other Houstonians here in this great India House.”

The city of Houston has given India House a $500,000 community development block grant.

The center, which will cost between $18 million and $20 million, will promote Indian-American culture and provide social, health care and referral services for everyone — regardless of their ethnicity. [Link]