Desi-American Archivist Preserves WWII Vets' Legacies in Decade-Long Quest

For the last ten years, a 28-year-old Indian-American has dedicated his life to a singular, urgent mission: preserving the stories of the World War II generation before they fade from living memory. Rishi Sharma has spent every day of the past decade conducting interviews with combat veterans, amassing one of the largest personal archives of firsthand wartime accounts in existence.

Sharma's journey has taken him across all 50 U.S. states and overseas, resulting in over 3,000 recorded conversations with veterans. His project, which began when he was just 18, is a race against time to capture the unvarnished experiences of a generation that is rapidly disappearing.

For the Desi diaspora, Sharma's work represents a profound model of civic engagement and historical stewardship. It demonstrates a deep, personal investment in preserving the broader American narrative—a narrative that includes the contributions of immigrants and their descendants. His decade-long commitment transcends cultural background, focusing instead on a collective national heritage. It underscores how second-generation immigrants are not just participants in contemporary society but are also becoming active custodians of its past, ensuring these crucial human stories are passed to future generations.