Ashish Kumar Sen

Within days of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Pakistan and parts of India on October 8, 2005, American doctors of Indian and Pakistani origin were teaming up on emergency surgical operations, trekking into cut-off villages and pooling thousands of dollars to aid the injured and homeless.

Two politicians sought election to the New Jersey State Assembly in November 2005. One is a Democrat, the other a Republican. One won, one lost. The twist in this tale: Both are Indian Americans.