The PNW-India relationship, from Cosmic Crisp apples to tech

If you’ve walked through Westlake Park recently, perhaps you’ve noticed the new statue of Swami Vivekananda, a philosopher and Hindu monk. Vivekananda is credited with introducing yoga and the Vedanta philosophy to a global audience. That statue is a gift to the city from the government of India. People from India represent more than 10 percent of Washington’s foreign-born residents. As of 2024, nearly 95,000 King County residents were born there.  The statue is part of a broader cultural diplomacy initiative, according to the consulate general in Seattle. The diplomatic outpost opened two years ago, and India's consul general in Seattle joined Soundside to talk about the relationship between the Pacific Northwest and India.  Guest Consul General Prakash GuptaRelated Links America's First Guru - PBS Trump’s Changes Lock Some Employers Out of H-1B Visa Program & As H-1B Visa Program Changes, Skilled Foreign Workers Consider Leaving U.S.  - The New York Times   Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.