US vice presidential candidate for the democratic party, Kamala Harris, who is the first US senator of South Asian descent, came from a small south Indian village near the city of Chennai, called Thulasendrapuram. The residents of the village have taken pride in the fact that a person whose family originally hailed from their village will become the second-most powerful person in the world’s richest country, if she wins the elections.
“We are really hoping she wins,” said the head of Thulasendrapuram’s village committee Gurunathan, who is planning to hold a special prayer at the local temple on election day, “the village has received global fame because of her. She is our pride.”
“From Thulasendrapuram to America” declares one of the many banners put up in the village. Kamal Harris 35-year-old California-based niece also tweeted a picture of one of the banners plastered in the village.
Preparations are being made in the local temple to conduct an “abhishekam” – a Hindu ritual – to pray for Harris’ victory.
There is also a different sentiment being expressed by some members of the village. “…I think she is not proud of her Hindu roots, she identifies herself as a Christian,” the temple’s caretaker, SV Ramanan, said, “though she has reconnected with her Indian connection on the campaign trail, she has mostly played up her image as an American.”
