Page 14 - The Indian EYE 071026

The Indian Eye
COMING TO AMERICA 14
JULY 10, 2026

Achieving the American Dream:

My Journey in America

rials research. I subsequently joined
Business Communications Compa-
ny (BCC), where I advanced from
Director of the Advanced Materials
Group to Vice President.
My work focused on advanced
ceramics, composite materials, and
emerging technologies. During the
1990s, I recognized the enormous
commercial potential of nanomate-
rials and nanotechnology long be-
fore the field entered mainstream
DR. THOMAS ABRAHAM discussion. In 1998, I organized one
of the world’s first international con-
hen I left India in 1973 to ferences and exhibitions dedicated
pursue graduate studies in to the commercialization of nano-
Wthe United States, I carried technology in New York City. These
with me one suitcase, an engineering annual conferences brought together
education, $75 in my pocket and a scientists, entrepreneurs, investors,
dream. Like thousands of young In- and industry leaders from around
dians of my generation, I came not the world and helped accelerate the
in search of wealth but in pursuit transition of nanotechnology from
of knowledge, opportunity, and the research laboratories to commercial
chance to contribute to society. applications.
Looking back over more than Driven by an entrepreneurial
five decades, I realize that my own spirit, I later founded Innovative
journey mirrors the larger story of ages of graduate students in engi- engineering, medicine, higher educa- Research and Products (IRAP), a
Indian Americans—students who neering and the applied sciences. tion, information technology, entre- technology research, consulting,
became scientists, engineers who be- Indian students answered that call in preneurship, and public service. We publishing, and conference company.
came entrepreneurs, and immigrants large numbers. were fortunate to become part of one Building a company from the ground
who helped strengthen both Amer- Nearly half the graduate students of the greatest periods of technolog- up fulfilled a lifelong dream and gave
ica and India while building vibrant in my department at Columbia were ical innovation in American history. me the opportunity to work with in-
communities across the world. from India. Similar scenes could be My own professional career be- novators, entrepreneurs, Fortune
After graduating from Malaviya found at engineering schools across gan as a Research Metallurgist at 500 companies, research laborato-
Regional Engineering College (now America. That generation of Indi- the University of Denver and later ries, and governments on emerging
Malaviya National Institute of Tech- an students would go on to make at Brookhaven National Laboratory, technologies.
nology) in Jaipur, Rajasthan, I briefly important contributions in science, where I worked on advanced mate- While my professional career
served as a lecturer at my alma ma- provided great satisfaction, I always
ter before working as a metallurgist believed that success carries with it a
in Jodhpur. Although these were responsibility to serve others.
rewarding positions, I aspired to pur- Soon after arriving in New York,
sue advanced education and research I became involved in the Indian
in the United States. American community. At that time,
That opportunity came in early the Indian diaspora was still relative-
1973 when I received a fellowship to ly small, and there were few organi-
study for my Master’s and Ph.D. at zations representing the interests of
the Henry Krumb School of Mines immigrants from India. I felt that as
of Columbia University in New York our community grew, we needed in-
City, one of America’s oldest engi- stitutions that could preserve our cul-
neering schools. tural heritage, advocate for our civil
The timing was significant. Fol- rights, encourage civic participation,
lowing the passage of the 1965 Immi- and help future generations succeed.
gration and Nationality Act, America Over the past five decades, I
opened its doors to talented profes- have had the privilege of helping
sionals from around the world based establish or lead several organiza-
on merit rather than national origin. tions that have become important
At the same time, many American institutions within the Indian Amer-
universities were experiencing short- Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com