 "A poster shows US Vice President Kamala Harris in her ancestral village of Thulasendrapuram in Tamil Nadu on July 23, after President Biden stepped down as the Democratic Party nominee for president and endorsed Harris. Source: AFP.")
The current Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris has often been subjected to questions regarding her ethnicity and background. Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland California, Harris is the daughter of immigrants.
But is she Indian? That is one question that has lingered across the mind of many voters ahead of the 2024 US presidential election where she is running against former US president and Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Harris’ mother Shyamala Gopalan was from India, while her father Donald Harris is of Jamaican descent.
Kamal Harris’ Indian Heritage
Harris’ Indian roots come from her mother, who was born in Chennai, India.
Shyamala Gopalan was a renowned breast cancer researcher and civil rights activist. She immigrated to the US in the 1960s to pursue her education and career.
Harris has frequently spoken about the influence her mother had on her life, speaking about the values of hard work, education, and social justice.
In interviews, Harris has highlighted her Indian heritage, expressing pride in her mother’s cultural background.
She has shared stories of her childhood, including experiences with Indian cuisine and traditions, which shaped her identity.
In a recent interview, while talking about her mom, Harris said: “I realised she was actually teaching me to think about where you had agency in that moment and think about what you had the choice to do or not to do.”
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More Shorts“As a young girl visiting my grandparents in India, my grandfather took me on his morning walks, where he would discuss the importance of fighting for equality and fighting corruption. He was a retired civil servant who had been part of the movement to win India’s independence,” Harris had said.
Harris visited India
Soon after Harris stepped into the Presidential race, most people in a town in Tamil Nadu named Thulasendrapuram started praying every day for her win.
Thulasendrapuram is said to be Harris’ ancestral village, where her maternal grandfather P V Gopalan lived some 100 years ago.
As per a report by Reuters, Harris was born and raised in California but visited Thulasendrapuram when she was five.
Harris’ Jamaican roots
Harris’ father, Donald Harris, is a Jamaican national who moved to the US to study at Stanford University. He has had a successful career as an economics professor.
His Jamaican roots also play a significant role in Harris’s identity, contributing to her multicultural background.
Identity & representation
Harris’ mixed heritage makes her a unique figure in American politics. As the first female Vice President, and the first of Black and South Asian descent, she represents a diverse America.
Harris often discusses the importance of representation and inclusivity, echoing the sentiments of her upbringing.
Is Kamala Harris Indian?
Yes, she is of Indian descent through her mother, Shyamala Gopalan. However, her identity is multifaceted, encompassing her Jamaican heritage as well.