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Harris, 55, was nominated as the vice-presidential candidate on Wednesday at the virtual Democratic National Convention.
In her acceptance speech, Harris profoundly remembered her mother Shyamala Gopalan from Tamil Nadu. Harris said her mother raised her and her sister “to be proud, strong Black women. And she raised us to know and be proud of our Indian heritage. She taught us to put family first— the family you’re born into and the family you choose.”
In reference to her Indian heritage, Harris used a Tamil expression in speaking of “my uncles, my aunts — my chithis.”
“Chithi” means aunt in Tamil and Kamala Harris using the word during her speech came as a pleasant surprise for many in India and the US.
The word “Chithi” set the desi Twitter abuzz as many people pointed out that this was the first time that a Tamil word was spoken at such a convention.
For most people in India, particularly Tamilians, it was an emotional moment who could connect with the word. The speech soon went viral on social media even as the search for the word “chithi” spiked on Google.
The vice-presidential candidate’s niece Meena Harris also joined the Twitterati.
Chittis for America!!!!!
— Meena Harris (@meenaharris) 1597892173000
I literally have tears in my eyes. @KamalaHarris just said “chithis” which means auntie. My heart is so full right now
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) 1597892290000
A shoutout to her சித்தி by @KamalaHarris. #Chithis https://t.co/DMEP53CvWt
— Twitter Moments India (@MomentsIndia) 1597916136000
OMG SHE JUST SAID CHITTHIS IM DEAD
— megha (@meghailango) 1597892203000
My South Indian pride welled up when Kamala Harris said “chitthis.” Tamil for mother’s younger sister. It’s a prett… https://t.co/TvjscBHZ5n
— SangeethaSarma (@SangiSarma) 1597893183000
The next Vice President of the United States of America just gave a shout-out to her Chitthis – MY TAMILIAN GOOSEBU… https://t.co/dwId4COoDJ
— Divya Mouli (@KTBSPAforever) 1597892505000
omg omg omg omg, I never thought I’d hear the word “chitthis” at a dem convention. Dead.
— sg175 (@sg1753) 1597892215000
All the ‘chitthis’ must be extremely pleased today. #KamalaHarrisDay
— Ridhima Bhatnagar (@ridhimb) 1597897671000
Yes, loved the “chitthis” that she acknowledged. Never thought I’d hear a Tamil word on American TV, that too at th… https://t.co/OMgqENOTwb
— Dr. Srivi Ramasubramanian (@DrSrivi) 1597896829000
Did she now?! Say what you want when you hear your mother tongue spoken effortlessly in an English sentence it brin… https://t.co/fKx54Ud5Rw
— Rp (@meetrp) 1597917294000
When your niece texts you after hearing @KamalaHarris give a shout out to the chithis! ❤️ 😭 https://t.co/VT5rRNOKd8
— Sangu Iyer (@literaryanimal) 1597894643000
Harris opened her vice-presidential acceptance speech on Wednesday night at the virtual Democratic National Convention by remembering her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, lamenting the fact that she could not be there to see her daughter’s achievement.
“My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning. And oh, how I wish she were here tonight but I know she’s looking down on me from above,” she said.
Harris’ mother died of cancer in 2009.
My mother instilled in my sister, Maya, and me the values that would chart the course of our lives.She taught us… https://t.co/hZIabl5bz9
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) 1597892243000
Harris is the first Indian-American to be selected for the second-highest elected office of the United States after that of the president.
She is also the first-ever Black and first-ever African American to be nominated as a vice-presidential candidate by a major political party.
If elected in the November 3 presidential elections, Harris, whose mother is from India and father from Jamaica, would be the first-ever women vice president of the United States.
Watch Kamala Harris: Why my Indian mother always put ‘family first’
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