/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f3ad1fecc6ac84205782e64/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=4920&cropY1=0&cropY2=3280 "‘The Granddaughter Is Victorious’: Kamala Harris’ VP Nomination Continues To Draw Elation In India")
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TOPLINE
California Sen. Kamala Harris’ nomination as the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential candidate has continued to draw public curiosity in Tamil Nadu, the Indian state where her mother was born, with billboards and adoring media coverage celebrating her ascension to the spotlight.
The nomination of Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s V.P. Candidate has led to celebrations in … [+]
KEY FACTS
Harris’ niece Meena tweeted a photo of a billboard from Tamil Nadu, which said “PV Gopalan’s granddaughter is victorious,” and other users on Twitter were quick to respond with photos of similar signs put out by local political parties.
Harris’ mother Shyamala was the daughter of PV Gopalan, who had participated in the Indian independence movement and would later go on to become a senior civil servant in the country.
Senior leaders of both the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK parties in the state had quickly sent out congratulatory tweets, celebrating the Senator’s nomination after the announcement last week.
Residents of Painganadu, Harris’ ancestral village in Tamil Nadu, “basked in happiness” following news of the nomination, noting that they are waiting for her to be elected as Vice President, Indian newspaper The Hindu reported.
The impact of Harris’ nomination hasn’t just been limited to the southern state of Tamil Nadu, news website The Print reported that New Delhi seems to be “overwhelmingly” reaching out to Democrats after the announcement.
The report added that Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been meeting Democratic Party leaders such as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), among others.
Tangent
Harris’ stance on India’s actions in Kashmir has been a point of discussion for the New Delhi media. The Indian government had faced condemnation from Harris and other Democrats last year for revoking “Article 370” of the Indian Constitution which gave special autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Harris’ maternal uncle Dr. G Balachandran told India Today that Harris has a “strong sense of…human rights. Even if she is of Indian extraction, as a VP or even as a Senator now, if she thinks anything in India impinges upon the civil rights of Indian citizens, she will speak out loud and clear.”
Key Background
India has historically seen bipartisan support from the U.S., with both the Bush and Obama administrations engaging in close cooperation with New Delhi. However, the current Indian administration’s actions in Kashmir—which included revoking the state’s autonomy, restricting communications, arresting local political leaders and enforcing a military lockdown—has drawn sharp criticism from some Democrats including Harris. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also drawn flak for his enthusiastic embrace of the U.S. President. Modi was accused of effectively endorsing Donald Trump while sharing the stage with him at a large public event in Houston, organized by the Indian American community. Modi, who is very active on Twitter and usually enthusiastic about highlighting successes of the Indian diaspora, has refrained from commenting on Harris’ nomination. While her nomination has largely been celebrated as a triumph of diversity and inclusiveness, some commentators on Twitter pointed out the dichotomy of her racial and caste identity with one person tweeting, “Her one side represents African Americans who were at the receiving end of oppression…Her other side, she represents Hindu Brahmins who were the oppressors in the Indian caste system.” Other’s pointed to a 2003 profile of Harris noting that her mother had said, “We are Brahmins, that is the top caste. Please do not confuse this with class, which is only about money. For Brahmins, the bloodline is the most important. My family, named Gopalan, goes back more than 1,000 years.”
Further Reading
Kamala Harris Hailed As A ‘Triumph Of Diversity’—In India (Forbes)
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