Indian Village Celebrates Kamala Harris
Thulasendhrapuram, a tiny village 300 km from Chennai and 14,000 km from Washington DC, is proud to be the ancestral home of Kamala Harris’ maternal grandparents. The village displays a large banner of Harris, 59, and offers special prayers for her success. Villagers distribute sweets and closely follow the US presidential race after Joe Biden’s withdrawal and Harris’ rise as a possible nominee.
Krishnamurthi, a retired bank manager, expressed pride in Harris’ achievements in the powerful US. Women in the village see her as a role model, calling her “my sister, my mother.” Arulmozhi Sudhakar, a local representative, noted the village’s happiness and pride in Harris remembering her roots.
When Harris became vice president, villagers celebrated with fireworks, posters, and a feast of her favorite south Indian dishes like sambar and idli. Harris’ mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was from Tamil Nadu and moved to the US in 1958. She was a scientist and civil rights activist who instilled pride in Harris and her sister.
Harris visited Chennai with her sister after their mother’s death, following Hindu traditions to immerse her ashes in the sea. Harris’ family is full of high achievers, including her maternal uncle, an academic, and her grandfather, an Indian bureaucrat and advisor to Zambia’s first president.
Professor R Rajaraman, a classmate of Harris’ mother, noted the family’s prominence and positivity. Villagers in Thulasendhrapuram hope Harris will visit someday or mention their village in her speeches. Temple priest Natarajan believes their prayers will help Harris win the election.
This information is based on a report by the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9037j47pyzo