Wed Nov 06 16:54:10 UTC 2024: ## Visakhapatnam Professor Celebrates Grand-Niece’s Rise as Second Lady of the U.S.
**Visakhapatnam, India** – Professor Chilukuri Santhamma, a 96-year-old physics professor in Visakhapatnam, is overjoyed after her grand-niece, Usha Chilukuri Vance, was elected Second Lady of the United States. Usha is married to J.D. Vance, who was elected Vice President as the running mate of President-elect Donald Trump.
The news of Vance’s election has brought a wave of excitement to Santhamma’s home in Akkayyapalem, where media and well-wishers gathered on Wednesday evening.
“I am so happy that someone from our family has achieved this,” expressed a beaming Santhamma. She recalled that Usha’s grandfather, Rama Subramanya Sastry, and her own husband were brothers.
While thrilled for her grand-niece, Santhamma expressed her concern about the brain drain from India. “I wish opportunities could be made available in India so that our talent stays within the country,” she said.
Usha’s father, Chilukuri Radhakrishna, is the son of Rama Subramanya Sastry. Radhakrishna, an IIT Madras graduate, migrated to the U.S. and Usha was born there.
Even after her retirement from Andhra University, Santhamma continues to teach physics at Centurion University in Vizianagaram. She has previously expressed her hope that Usha, despite her success in the U.S., won’t forget her roots.
First Piper 