The $8 Man

In the 1960s and ’70s, a wave of Indian immigrants came to North America, each with eight dollars in their pockets. How did they become one of the most educated, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic immigrant groups ever to assimilate?

Here, at last, are their stories—told in their own words. From technology innovators to community activists, these seventeen energetic, unstoppable immigrants worked tirelessly to effect change in both India and North America. Some founded tech start-ups that revolutionized the way technology was designed and how data centers operated. Others devoted their lives to community building within their adopted country or established diverse philanthropic organizations whose works range from lifting thousands out of poverty to harvesting rainwater for cities and agricultural regions. Their stories reveal seemingly boundless determination—an inspiration to all those seeking to make their way, incubate and innovate ideas, and transform the world in the process.