Q&A with Amitabh Ranjan, the first Person of Indian origin to contest elections in the financial capital of the biggest South American country and economy
Born in Bihar Sharif, Bihar, India in 1975 and educated at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, Amitabh Ranjan moved to São Paulo in 1999. In the past 25 years, the businessman has made significant contributions to various sectors, including coordinating the famous Brazilian serial “Caminho das Índias” (Passages to India) in 2009. He has also served as the Social Action Director of the Indian Association of Sao Paulo, which is the only organization of the Indian community in Brazil.
Now, Amitabh Ranjan, 49, is contesting the São Paulo Municipal Council election as a candidate of the Republican Party of Brazil, to which the current Governor of São Paulo, Tarcisio Freitas, also belongs. As a candidate for the post of Councilor, he is the first-ever Person of Indian Origin (PIO) to contest for an elected office in Brazil.
In a free-wheeling interview with the Indian EYE, the India-born politician spoke about his life, political campaign and India-Brazil relations. Excerpts of the interview:
When and why did you decide to contest the municipal elections in Sao Paulo?
I moved to Brazil in 1999. So, it’s more than 25 years that I have lived in Sao Paulo in Brazil. During this period, I have seen many changes but I personally feel that things could have been much better. So, instead of just waiting for the change, I decided to participate directly in the political process to become a part of the Brazilian system and try to do something different for it to become better.
Although I always had it in my mind to join politics at some stage, I decided to jump into the elections after accompanying then Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro during his visit to India as chief guest at the Republic Day ceremony on January 26 in 2020. But immediately after the visit, COVID-19 started to grip the world in March 2020 and saving lives became a priority worldwide. So, I decided to postpone my ideas for some more time. And now as Brazil is going to have municipal election in October and everyone is working to recover in the post-Covid scenario, I decided to go ahead with my plans to make my contribution to the society and economy I have been part for almost three decades.
Why is this election important for Brazil and especially for the Indian community?
Brazil and India are part of the BRICS group, G-20, IBSA, G-4 and have interaction and cooperation at many other multi-lateral platforms. This year, Brazil is hosting the G-20 summit, with India passing on the presidency to Brazil last year. Many Indian ministers, secretaries and high-level delegations have been visiting Brazil this year for different meetings. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Brazil in November this year for the G-20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
This growing partnership between India and Brazil will definitely enhance the business relationships between our two countries. Just to have an idea, India and the US have bilateral trade of almost US$ 200 billion per annum. India and a few Middle-Eastern countries have annual trade in the range of US$ 100 billion. Whereas India and Brazil trade is hardly around US$ 15 billion. This doesn’t mean that it can’t be raised to a higher level. The trade has been increasing gradually. It’s just a matter of taking more initiatives at all levels between the two countries. If all goes well and if I win this election, I will definitely try to concentrate my efforts to help in increasing the bilateral trade between India and Brazil because Sao Paulo is the financial capital of not only Brazil but the entire South America. Most Indian companies are based here and we would like to see more Indian companies setting up operations here and more Brazilian firms going to India.
Is the Indian community politically active in Brazil or other South American countries?
Unfortunately, we have a very small Indian community here in Brazil or even in Latin America. In Brazil, it hardly consists of around 1,000 families. The numbers in other South American nations are similar. I am the first and only person from Indian origin so far to contest elections here in Brazil. I hope that in future this scenario will be different and more people of Indian origin will join politics and run for elected positions. Brazil is a very important country and we need to have Indo-Brazilian voices in its chambers of politics.
Though I am the first PIO to run for an elected position, I stand as a proud representative of India in Brazil, especially in São Paulo. I aspire to and plan to be the voice of the Indian community, our businesses and our companies in the council of Brazil’s most important city – financially and politically.
As the campaign has already begun, what are your main proposals for the electorate of the city?
Although there are many possibilities, I am targeting and focusing on three main issues.
My first priority will be education. Without education a society is nothing. I was born in the Nalanda district in Bihar. Nalanda University was created in the 6th century B.C. and it is world famous for their education system. Though very little is known, the number Zero is a great invention made by Aryabhatta, who was a professor at the same ancient Nalanda University. And today our whole mathematical system depends on the number Zero. Because of our great mathematical tradition, Indians have made enormous contribution to the internet too. Today, India is the world’s biggest exporter of software and I don’t see any substitute for it at least for the next 10 years. Gradually, the whole world is going to be even more dependent on Artificial Intelligence or let’s say in other words, the world will be more dependent on India’s software power. We need similar efforts in the area of education in Brazil.
My second focus area will be to project the importance of Yoga and Ayurveda. The absence of disease is also a synonym of good health. With the practice of Yoga and Ayurveda, we can gradually establish a good health system in Brazil. Though very little is known in the western world, even the spices used in the Indian cooking also helps in enhancing the human immune system. The recent proof was during the COVID-19 pandemic. The death ratio worldwide was around 4-5% whereas the same in India was less than 1%. It was not by miracle but due to the very good immune system which we Indians have.
My third priority would be public security. Brazil and few other Latin American countries have the highest crime rates in the world. We can gradually introduce Artificial Intelligence to the Brazilian security and policing system and this way we can reduce crime rates here. Obviously, this is going to be a temporary solution. In the long term, education and skill-building is the only way to reduce crime rate in this country.
How do you think your election to the council win will help India-Brazil relations?
I am 49 years old. I moved to Brazil at the age of 23 and in a few months’ time I shall be completing 25 years of living in Brazil. Almost 50% of my life I have lived in India and the other 50% in Brazil. So, all I mean to say is that I know both the countries very well. On top of it, I am an alumnus of JNU, New Delhi, 1992-97 batch from the Center of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian & Latin American Studies. What I am today, it is because of my education at JNU. The university has one of the most prestigious centers in terms of International Studies. Many Indian diplomats presently posted worldwide are JNU products, including the External Affairs Minister Dr. Subramanyam Jaishankar and also our present Indian Ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Suresh Reddy. I would be very keen to jointly work with this vast network to enhance the business and trade relationships between both the countries.
How will your election help the local Indian community in Sao Paulo and other states of Brazil?
Recently, the governor of Parana (a Brazilian state in the south) went to India and had a joint venture with Tata Consultancy Service. And now they have a full-fledged office of more than 3,600 workers here. Imagine, if we could bring ten Indian companies with 5,000 employees each to Sao Paulo. It will directly benefit the Brazilian and Indian community based here. Not only that, if I win the election, the local Indian community will have a voice representing them in the local council and Government. Just in case, anybody – an individual or the community — needs anything, I will be able to work with the local authorities to help them.
Who are the main groups of people you plan to target in your campaign?
I would like to target the industrialists, business persons and Educationists initially as I take my message across this city. I would target them first because they have innovative ideas to change the world. But, of course, as a politician I would like to reach out and talk to all sections of the society and also listen to their needs and aspirations.
