Though Harris has yet to make an official visit to India as vice president, the support from Thulasendrapuram remains unwavering
In the quiet village of Thulasendrapuram in southern India, there is an unmistakable sense of pride and anticipation. The village, nestled in Tamil Nadu, is the ancestral home of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Although little was known about her until her rise to political prominence, today, the villagers celebrate her as one of their own, with banners proudly displaying her image and titles like “daughter of this land.”
Thulasendrapuram had already basked in joy when Harris made history in 2021 by becoming the first woman, the first Black American, and the first Asian American to serve as the Vice President of the United States. However, with her current pursuit of the presidency, the excitement in the village and among Indian Americans is palpable. This enthusiasm reflects the broader sense of pride felt across India and its extensive diaspora, recognizing the increasing influence of their cultural heritage on global stages.
The villagers, who celebrated her 2020 election victory with fireworks and festivities, continue to stand by her, inspired by her journey from their small village to one of the most powerful positions in the world
“This is a significant moment where Indian Americans are seeing their values and cultural heritage reflected in the highest echelons of American politics,” says Chintan Patel, the executive director of Indian American Impact, a voter engagement organization.
Kamala Harris’ connection to India runs deep. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in what was once Madras (now Chennai), the capital of Tamil Nadu. Gopalan later moved to the United States to pursue higher education, where she met Harris’ Jamaican father, Donald Harris. Despite growing up in the U.S., Kamala Harris has maintained strong ties with her Indian roots, often speaking about her visits to India during her childhood, especially the trips to see her grandfather, P.V. Gopalan, a retired public service officer.
Harris has frequently acknowledged how her Indian heritage has shaped her life and career. During a state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, she highlighted how her mother ensured that she and her sister stayed connected to their ancestry. This connection was poignantly expressed when Harris scattered her mother’s ashes on a Chennai beach, a place filled with memories of her family.
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