Tue Nov 05 05:25:54 UTC 2024: ## Kamala Harris’s Ancestral Village in Tamil Nadu Awaits Election Results with Quiet Hope
**Thulasendrapuram, Tamil Nadu** – While the world awaits the announcement of the US presidential election results, a small village in Tamil Nadu, India, harbors a quiet sense of anticipation. This village, Thulasendrapuram, is believed to be the ancestral home of Vice President Kamala Harris’s maternal grandfather, P.V. Gopalan.
Though the village doesn’t bear the same buzz as during Harris’s previous campaigns, there is a subtle excitement about her potential victory. Gopalan lived in Thulasendrapuram before migrating to Chennai and later serving as India’s ambassador to Zambia. While Harris’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan, did not grow up in the village, her education in America led her to a life far from her ancestral roots.
Despite the lack of direct connection, Harris has expressed a strong connection to her Indian heritage, drawing inspiration from family stories and their actions. In a recent post on X, Harris acknowledged the courage and strength instilled in her by her mother, who emigrated from India at the age of 19.
Harris’s own experiences with civil rights activism in the 1960s, detailed in her memoir “The Truths We Hold,” showcased her embrace of her black identity, while also highlighting the influence of her Indian heritage. She has spoken about her mother’s strength and her grandmother’s courage, emphasizing the importance of social justice deeply ingrained in her family history.
Although Shyamala Gopalan’s connection to India was sporadic, Harris’s family member, Sarala, has mentioned that Harris retains a limited knowledge of Tamil vocabulary, including words like ‘chitti’ (aunt). Sarala also shared that Harris had been exposed to Indian mythology, South Indian culture, and culinary traditions, likely due to visits to India during her childhood.
The announcement of Harris’s Vice Presidential candidacy in 2020 initially brought excitement to Thulasendrapuram. However, the buzz has now subsided, possibly due to lack of media attention and the absence of campaigns.
Krishnamoorthy, an 80-year-old former State Bank manager from the village, expressed confidence in Harris’s victory, hoping for celebrations in the village. While he remains unaware of any prayer rituals in anticipation of the election results, he acknowledges the limited connection between Harris and the village. He believes that Harris’s victory could strengthen ties between the US and India.
Despite the distant ties, the village remembers a visit from Harris’s relative, Sarala, 15 years ago, who donated 5,000 rupees in Harris’s name. This led to her name being engraved on the local temple. The inscription of Harris’s name alongside Joe Biden during the last election brought renewed awareness of the village’s connection to the Vice President.
Krishnamoorthy reflects on the centuries-old history of the village, once home to 40 Brahmin families, now reduced to a handful. He concludes with a lighthearted note, speculating that if Harris wins, the leftover fireworks from Diwali might finally see use in village celebrations.
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