If you want to find South Asians in the Bay Area, a pretty good place to start would be in San Jose. It’s here in the heart of Silicon Valley, where the South Asian American presence is abundant, that you’ll find Assemblyman Ash Kalra, the first Indian in California’s history to serve in the State Legislature. At the convergence of community, technology, and culture, Ash has committed to a life of public service, and he has been deeply involved in significant issues related to equality, criminal justice reform, health care, labor, and the environment. He is running for re-election this November, and I was able to catch up with him recently. I asked him to reflect upon his early journey toward a life of public service.