Some of Democratic Senator Barack Obama's strongest Indian-American supporters have said in interviews with rediff.com that the detailed policy paper of his clearly spelling out his agenda toward the Indian American and South Asian American communities is a tangible manifestation of how eager he was to engage and work with these communities.

They also lauded his vision for the future US-India relationship.

Also read: Ties with India top priority if elected: Obama

Preeta Bansal, former New York solicitor general, who attended Harvard Law School with Obama in the late 1980s, said, "It's a great thing that a presidential candidate has chosen to engage our community as Americans who care about substantive policy positions."

She bemoaned that for too long the community has been content with mere photo-ops and with emotional rhetoric about India, often not tied to any policy substance."

Bansal said that Obama's policy paper demonstrates a recognition that the Indian American community, as entrepreneurs as well as workers contributing to this country, care deeply about the country and about issues facing them as Americans -- good education, support for small business, promotion of religious pluralism, support for families, access to health care, a sensible immigration policy, a strong economy, and a strong and moral foreign policy, among many other things."

"It's a real credit to our community and to Senator Obama that he has engaged us in this substantive way," she said, and added, "I can only hope that we approach our choices in this very important election with a similar focus on substance and a deep commitment to the critical challenges facing America."

Bansal, a partner in the leading New York law firm of Skadden Arps, said that she was particularly delighted to see the Senator's emphasis on his recognition of the vital importance of religious pluralism in America.

Subodh Chandra, another strong backer of Obama, said the policy paper was indicative of how hard Senator Obama wants to compete for Indian American support.

 "I'm glad Senator Obama is moving aggressively to reach out to our community to address squarely issues that impact us," he said.

Chandra, who ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic nominee for the post of attorney general of Ohio last year, argued: "It is important that people look for the candidate who wants to and would make the biggest difference in our lives for this generation and beyond."

"Indian-Americans have tended to support incumbents or frontrunners," he complained.

"But that's like buying a stock when it has already peaked. Senator Obama is a growth stock. At age 46, he represents the best of what America will and can be. Basically, he's us."

Hrishi Karthikeyan, co-founder of South Asians for Obama, and also an attorney, said: "By offering a thoughtful and detailed agenda for the South Asian American community, Senator Obama has shown once again his ability to move beyond the sound-bite culture and address the real needs of our community."

He said that Obama understands that the Indian-Americans are not a monolithic, one-issue constituency. Rather, we have a vested interest in a wide range of domestic and international policy issues -- including education, health care, immigration, civil rights, and security.

Karthikeyan said the Senator, having lived abroad and spent his whole life connecting with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences, is uniquely positioned to take the country forward.