Srinivasan thanks Indian American community

‘You made it possible,’ judge says.

By Bala Chandran

WASHINGTON, DC: Srikanth “Sri” Srinivasan, who was sworn in a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Monday, thanked the Indian American community for its support wholehearted support during his confirmation process.

Speaking at a reception at the residence of Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao hours after his swearing in ceremony, the Chandigarh-born Srinivasan said the community “made it possible.”

“Candidly, it is something that I didn’t appreciate at the outset of the process,” he said. “It is something I grew to appreciate a great deal more as the process moved on.”

Srinivasan, 46, served as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States prior to his confirmation by the U.S. Senate on May 23, 2013.

As President Obama pointed out the time of his confirmation, Srinivas is the first circuit court judge of South Asian descent. The president had described him as “a trailblazer who personifies the best of America.”

Describing Srinivasan, a Stanford graduate, as an “extraordinary young man and extraordinary Indian American,” Rao said, “Here he is at a relatively young age, he has achieved so much. But the best is yet to be.”

Speaking on Monday, a day after Father’s Day, Srinivasan paid rich tributes to his own father, T.P. Srinivasan, who passed away a week ago.

“He was a great man; he had the quintessential immigrant experience,” he said. He brought his wife – my mother — and children… to this country at an early age, seeking opportunity for us. And His ambitions were our ambitions. His dreams were our dreams. And I think they were fully realized.”

Srinivasan noted that his father “in rapidly declining health by the time” he was confirmed. “But I am convinced, and I think we are all convinced that he wanted himself to stay alive to see the confirmation.”

Among those present at the reception was Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., the Solicitor General of the United States and a number of members of U.S. Congress, including Tulsi Gabbard and Mike Honda.