Indian immigrants in Florida are redefining retirement, creating vibrant communities that blend cultural familiarity with active lifestyles, as seen in Anand Vihar, a unique 55-plus residential community in Wesley Chapel.
“We call him ‘young punk,’” Anil Shukla remarked, playfully nudging Suresh Tijoriwal’s shoulder. Tijoriwal, 74, chuckled as he sat at the head of a table filled with Stella Artois bottles, snacks, and red wine. This lively scene unfolded in the glass-walled portico of Anand Vihar, where eight neighbors gathered for their weekly happy hour—a tradition that has flourished for nearly five years.
Located in Wesley Chapel, Anand Vihar is a 167-home community designed for Indian Americans aged 55 and older. The residents hail from various parts of India, including Mumbai, Shimla, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. Many of them were among the first to immigrate to the U.S. after the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act lifted quotas that favored European immigrants. According to the Migration Policy Institute, the number of Indian immigrants in the U.S. surged from approximately 12,000 in 1960 to over 3.2 million in 2023…