Throughout American history, the contributions of immigrant populations have been vital to the hard work and innovation that has shaped our future as a nation. In particular, the large Indian diaspora has led to a large talent influx in fields like healthcare, software and business, with this growing population making significant strides in advancing their respective communities. This spirit of success and hard work is especially evident in our very own Forsyth County, where 28.6% of students are of Asian origin and actually make up the majority of schools like Lambert. However, despite the sizable contributions from this group to their communities and state, those of Indian origin or nationality in Georgia have lacked a representative in the state senate and government as a whole – that is, until December 12, 2023. Ashwin Ramaswami, an Indian-American candidate at just 24 years of age, is running for state senate from Johns Creek, serving as a role model for countless voices that finally have someone they can relate to. Boasting a computer science degree from Stanford University, Ramaswami recently transitioned into law and policy. His platform to represent District 48 includes greater educational rights, greater school funding and greater opportunities for all students. For the many growing up in a household similar to his, for the many seeking to give back to the home that shaped them, for those seeking to truly make a difference – get ready to delve into the story and vision of Ashwin Ramaswami.
Growing up in Johns Creek with two immigrant parents, Ramaswami was involved with the community from a very young age. While he didn’t pick up politics until much later, his upbringing served as the root for him and countless others to succeed later on in life. He was part of Bal Vihar, a Hindu spiritual organization, which helped him complement his traditional education with a thorough understanding of ancient philosophy and culture. This confluence between storied heritage and modern outlook, according to Ramaswami, has helped shape his mold of service, humility and gratitude.
“One thing I’ve learned very early on is that I should be extremely grateful for everything I have – here in Johns Creek, we have some of the best public schools in the state of Georgia, with a lot of people here working in healthcare and tech,” Ramaswami explained. “However, learning about disparities in how we live in the suburbs versus people in the cities and rural areas is very eye-opening in just thinking about how I can give back to the community – not just the one who raised me but also everyone else because if everyone succeeds, that’s how [you] can succeed as well.”
His outlook runs akin to that of many Indian households in the area, with an emphasis placed on achieving success while still maintaining strong ties to one’s roots. However, Ramaswami’s expansion of this mindset to benefit communities across the state reflects an example that people of all ages and backgrounds can learn from. He further elucidates how being at the crossroads of these two worlds has melded him into the candidate and person he is today, stating that an inclination to always abide by good is necessary in the race for office – and in life.
“You should think about acting as if everyone’s watching you…it should always be something that will never harm anyone else and it’s one principle that I’ve always believed in – ahimsa,” Ramaswami explained. “It translates to nonviolence, and not just in action but in mind and thought; never wish harm on anyone and always see how you can help others.”
This mindset has allowed Ramaswami to break the stereotype of “self-serving” politicians and create a platform of truly impactful change centered around advocating for all interests with integrity. It also allows him to see and acknowledge a variety of perspectives and beliefs, which has helped in appreciating and truly deepening one’s understanding of the diverse populations here in Forsyth County. Overall, this strong worldview and sense of personal character has enabled Ramaswami to serve not just as a solid candidate, but act as an inspiration and role model for those he represents as well.
Another major talking point with respect to Ashwin Ramaswami’s campaign story is his academic qualifications, as he comes from an unorthodox set of disciplines but has found a way to leverage them to best serve and represent his people. He originally started out in computer science, gaining an interest in coding and working in a variety of programming languages from fourth grade. His quest for learning and understanding the world continued through his high school and college years, but there was one moment in particular that truly drew his attention to politics and the public sphere.
“It was really in high school when I saw the news about Donald Trump winning when I was like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of things wrong in the world, but there are ways we can make things better and fix it,’” Ramaswami explained.
Former President Trump’s controversial yet successful campaign in 2016, followed by the ensuing election interference scandal just four years later, were just two cornerstones in an era of attack on American democracy and the electoral process. Ramaswami has vivid recollections of being on the front lines of this event, as he worked in cybersecurity for the federal government and was responsible for handling election security during the 2020 episode.
“One day, I got an email that our boss was fired by President Trump because he made a statement that the 2020 election was the most secure in American history,” Ramaswami recounted. “I just realized that we were in a historical moment there, with me and the people around us just trying to do our jobs and secure the elections while weathering off the storm of politicians trying to undermine the work we were doing.”
This revelatory yet stark moment in not just Ramaswami’s career but in the history of the U.S. truly opened his eyes to the importance of politics and having effective, capable leaders in power. However, the aspects that allow him to emulate his own statement come from his background in not only computer science and cybersecurity but also in fields like law and policy. Ramaswami, after completing his Bachelor’s degree in computer science at Stanford, went on to study law and policy at the famed Georgetown University, which gave him a unique skill set to tackle a plethora of issues.
“People often ask me why I switched from computer science to law, but I tell them that it’s not a switch rather than a deepening in my expertise of both,” Ramaswami explained. “I’m one of the only people who’ve done tech, law, policy, and now state politics…if you’re able to take really important topics and bring them together, you can really become the person that people need.”
During his time at Stanford as a computer science student, Ramaswami had many experiences working for tech companies, but he often felt like a cog in a corporate machine and that his work lacked a deeper meaning. This spurred him into joining the federal government as a cybersecurity expert and later transitioning into law and policy, where he felt like his contributions truly mattered to his role and to his community. Ramaswami’s ability to synthesize a variety of different career fields, albeit unorthodox, into one cohesive thought process has enabled him to see political issues through a unique lens and provide novel solutions.
“When I did law, I started focusing on tech law and policy, and I was a very good voice in the room because I actually had coded before,” Ramaswami explained. “I knew how systems worked, whether it was AI, cybersecurity…it felt way more impactful, so that’s really what made me switch to the law and policy realm.”
Many politicians in office today do not have a tech background or even a view of contemporary issues through such a contemporary lens, which makes attacking the heart of the problem difficult without the proper expertise to do so. Ramaswami, by melding together multiple fields in order to accomplish this very feat, has established himself as not only a compassionate but also a competent candidate for the Georgia state senate.
“Digital mediums have been very helpful, as most of their hearing about me for the first time is through social media or some kind of online presence,” Ramaswami explained. “That’s gotten a lot of traction, and we hope to reach out to everyone, whether it’s younger people on Instagram or older people on Facebook. Wherever people are, we wanna make sure we’re there.”
This attitude reflects the power of social media in exploiting a larger audience and connecting with a variety of people through technology. As someone all too familiar with the digital realm himself, Ramaswami demonstrates how social media can unite people under one cause in an age where it is demonized for distancing users from reality. Furthermore, if Ramaswami is elected this coming November, he would be the first Gen-Z state senator in the history of Georgia, and using social media as a tool to connect rather than divide exemplifies the propensity of the younger generation for impactful change. With the world at their fingertips, younger people across the globe are getting involved in issues large and small, taking action themselves to cause meaningful change and spark social conversation. Ramaswami hopes to exemplify this spirit and pass it on to others looking to cause a wave of difference themselves.
“Since I announced my candidacy in December, a lot of young people have reached out saying, ‘I didn’t know I could do this; I want to get involved; this is really inspiring,’ ” Ramaswami said. “The very fact of me being in the state senate and being a voice will make a big difference, and I hope I can be one out of many in the future coming in to change the system.”
By taking the lead and not only advocating for change but inspiring others to do so, Ramaswami shows a glimpse of a brighter future for Georgia – one that empowers its youth to lead their communities and start the change they wish to see. The example of young leaders like Ramaswami, aiming to make history on multiple fronts, will surely serve as a model for future generations to come.
On the surface, Ashwin Ramaswami’s candidacy appears to be a story of firsts. The first Indian-American, the first member of Gen-Z, the first computer science major – everything seems to be history in the making. While this is quite certainly the case, those looking to understand the model of Ramaswami and countless others like him realize that their sagas are etched in a backdrop of timeless values, of undying humanity, of the eternal drive to empower their communities and make them a better place for all. Ramaswami’s story is more than just a feel-good tale – it is an example that everyone, whether Indian or not, young or old, rich or poor can learn and draw from. In today’s ever-divided world, where conflict, strife and misunderstanding often reign supreme, we need voices to step up and have the courage to take action about the injustices they see around them. His road to the state senate is one that reminds us of the power we hold in our own hands, in the impact we ourselves wield to be able to make a difference. It shows us that we don’t always need a Ph.D in political science or a billion-dollar tech startup to make the most of our lives and help uplift those of others – sometimes all we need is an open mind, an open heart and the courage to learn and act on what is right. Sometimes, all it takes is one voice, one person, one dream – and Ashwin Ramaswami’s story shows that any of us could be that person.
Editor’s note: The Lambert Post serves to highlight the stories of the community and does not endorse any political candidates. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and contributors on this student-run news site do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Lambert High School or Forsyth County Schools.
