Ryan Kailath, 25, lives in Brooklyn, rides a bicycle to work and, up until January 3, was passionately into music.

He preferred the eccentric rock of underground and independent groups, and spent much of his spare time searching for those unknown gems that do not generally get airtime on radio and TV.

His family, with its origins in the state of Kerala [Images], in India, is accomplished. Ryan's father Thomas Kailath was the first Indian-born student to receive a doctorate in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology His achievements since are noteworthy by any standard: Kailath is well known as the author of Linear Systems, one of the most referenced books in the field. Ryan for his part studied English writing and communication in Mary Washington College, in Virginia.

Ryan noticed himself turning, over the years, into the quintessential American male � and he is not entirely happy about it, because a 1993-1994 study stint in Bengaluru [Images], India, left a lasting impression and made him determined to retire to the country of his origin.

Unlike most American males, however, he was never into sports. He cycles, he says, because it gives him the sort of "feeling that nothing else does".

And then, on January 3, Senator Barack Obama [Images] won the Iowa caucus, the first step in the Democratic primary process for the presidential nomination, and his life changed in ways he hadn't anticipated.

Here is his story:

I was born in Stanford, California. I grew up there and went to college in Virginia. I had no interest in politics. I had no interest in anything beyond myself. My whole goal, when I was young, was to get a nice job that I like, make some money, live comfortably and do something that I enjoy.

As soon as I finished college, I pursued a career in the music industry. I took up a job but I wasn't happy with what I was doing.

It is a clich� in the US to say that Senator Barack Obama is bringing young people into the political process for the first time, but I am not ashamed to say that I am one of them. When I heard that he won Iowa I was overcome with emotion. I had followed his candidacy a little bit, but not too closely till that point.

I think his background and his story are unique. His story is most like my family's immigrant story.

At the time I was unemployed and looking for a job in New York. I called my friend who was working for Obama's campaign in New Hampshire and asked how I could help. I thought she would ask me to give some money, or put up some posters.

She said, come to New Hampshire, so I drove down. I got up at 6 in morning to stick posters, helped in canvassing and data entry. We focused on young people, going door to door in college dormitories to make sure that people got registered to vote. Invariably, we went to bed only around 1 in the morning. On January 8, the day of the New Hampshire primary, I drove a van around town to help people get to polling stations, make it easier for them to vote.

I think every future election will look at Obama's campaign for guidance. He has used the internet in revolutionary ways.

I play guitar, piano and drums � but that was before Obama got me hooked. I have voted only once; I was never interested in politics, but now I immerse myself in it and love it. I read blogs, newspapers and websites. I don't follow just the presidential election now � I've begun following local and state-level elections as well.

I joined him as an American rather than an Indian American. I live in this country, and I have an interest in its future. I took a  $12,000 pay cut to join the Obama campaign as a full-timer. I am young enough to afford it. I don't have a mortgage; I don't have a family to support, so I can take a break.

My parents were surprised to see my interest in politics. One reason I am interested in Obama is the issue of identity. I have faced similar issues. Often in my youth, I have felt different, alienated.

For example, as a child I loved acting, I acted in every school play for years. But I gave up that dream because I didn't think there was a place for Indian actors on the screen. Of course I am being proved wrong now by people like Kal Penn and Naveen Andrews. I guess the key there is that I didn't have faith in myself.

I didn't try for my cherished dreams, because I thought the barriers for non-whites were too high, and I was afraid of failing. It is a cheesy thing to say, but when Obama won Iowa I couldn't explain my emotions like I can now. He knocked down that barrier for me. That's why I was filled with emotions when he won.

All my life I have been interested only in myself. I wanted a good job and a nice house. Obama made me change my outlook. Now, I want to develop my life and help other people too. Politics can be a great way to do that.

I think it is difficult to be a man of principles in Washington. I am disappointed in some of Obama's recent pronouncements, as on the issues of telecom, gun control, death penalty and more. Still, I think he offers the best chance for the country to turn itself around.
Initially, I was swept by Obama mania a bit, but not anymore. I have thoroughly examined his records, read a lot on him. The smoke has faded. I see him as a more typical politician now, but still I think he has the capacity to lead. He is the best choice.

The number one point is that he has inspired millions of youth in the US, for the first time, to get involved in politics. I talk to hundreds of workers in my campaign work and I know now that I am not the only one with my story. There are hundreds of others who like me are first timers because of this guy. Some of his young supporters are starry-eyed, but some of them are like me, joining politics and increasingly taking an interest in local and state politics.

I do not ignore the fact that he has shifted his stance on a variety of issues � but right now, I think it is my job to help get him into the White House. Then, we can deal with these issues. What I do know is that if the Republican candidate, Senator John McCain [Images], is the one who makes it to the White House, we will have no chance to deal with the pressing issues of today.

Of course, Obama could still lose, in the Fall presidential election � but even so, he will leave behind the lasting legacy that he has activated an entire generation, got us involved in politics.

Ryan Kailath spoke to Sheela Bhatt