As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, residents of Thulasendrapuram, Tamil Nadu, are holding special prayers for Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party candidate with ancestral roots in the village. Her maternal grandfather, PV Gopalan, was born there over a century ago before his family moved to Chennai, where he served as a senior government official and later worked as a diplomat in Zambia. Harris’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan, later migrated to the United States for higher education.
Thulasendrapuram first garnered international attention in 2020 when villagers held similar prayers for Harris’s success in the vice-presidential election, celebrating her victory with fireworks and food distribution. The village temple now features her name and her grandfather’s on a donation plaque, while a large banner outside wishes her success, calling her “the daughter of the land.”
Despite limited ties to her ancestral village, Harris has expressed a deep appreciation for her heritage, often mentioning the influence of her mother’s courage and commitment to social justice. She credits her mother, Shyamala, with instilling values of resilience and activism, which she acknowledges in her biography and public statements. While Harris is celebrated for her Black heritage, she often highlights her Indian ancestry, describing how her family’s legacy has shaped her dedication to public service and justice.
