Kamala Harris’ Ancestral Village in India Rallies, Prays for Her Win

In a small rural community in Tamil Nadu, villagers gather to offer prayers for Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president who they see as a daughter of their ancestral land.

It’s the village of Thulasendrapuram, and Harris’ rise to prominence has created a wave of excitement here.

The village is her maternal grandfather’s birthplace, and though Harris has never visited the village, nor does she have any immediate family living here any longer, as far as the villagers are concerned the connection runs deep.

Temple priest M. Natarajan said “Her victory will be our victory. If our prayers reach God, she will triumph.”

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Harris’s grandfather, Gopalan Gopalan moved from the village to the city of Chennai, where he worked as a senior government official.

His daughter, Shyamala Gopalan, left India to pursue higher education in the U.S., where she would later marry and give birth to Kamala.

The vice president is an integral part of conversation in the village and her image appears on billboards and banners throughout the community.

“Our village ancestors’ granddaughter is running for U.S. president. This is a great honor,” said Natarajan.

The newfound fame has had tangible benefits for the village. The temple, which has received donations from relatives of Harris, recently began construction on a new water storage tank, funded by a bank.

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The tank is set to carry a plaque bearing Harris’ name as a tribute to her and her family’s roots.

Harris’ ties to India are a central part of her personal story, and she has often spoken fondly of her Indian heritage.

She is named after the Sanskrit word “Kamala” for “lotus flower.”

On the campaign trail, Harris frequently highlights the values instilled in her by her mother and grandfather.

In a recent campaign video, titled “Mother,” Harris paid tribute to her mother’s journey from India to the U.S. and to her work as a pioneering researcher.

The video ends with the line: “This daughter of Shyamala, this daughter of the American story, is ready to lead us forward.”

Villagers, too, recognize the significance of her rise and her success is a source of pride.

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Her name is prominently displayed on donor plaques in the temple, next to that of her grandfather. A large banner outside the temple wishes her “success in the election” and calls her “the daughter of the land.”

For many of the women in Thulasendrapuram, Harris is an emblem of empowerment.

The village, like much of rural India, still grapples with entrenched gender inequality. Yet Harris’ ascent to the White House has resonated deeply with local women who see her as a symbol of possibility.

Arulmozhi Sudhakar, a local politician, observes that Harris’ candidacy marks a momentous shift for women in villages like Thulasendrapuram.

Sudhaka said “In the past, women were not even allowed to leave their homes. Now, a woman from our village is running for president of the United States. This brings immense joy. The younger generation will see her as a role model and draw inspiration from her.”

Harris’ 2020 victory as vice president was met with celebration in Thulasendrapuram, where locals set off firecrackers in a display of joy.

More recently, the village has seen a surge in international visitors. Two American tourists and a visitor from the U.K., all wearing shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Kamala Freakin’ Harris,” made their way to the temple to pay homage to the village’s connection to the vice president.

For Manikandan Ganesan, a small-business owner in Thulasendrapuram, Harris’ presidential campaign has brought the village into the global spotlight.

Ganesan said: “It would be wonderful if she visited us one day. Even mentioning that she might come here would be enough to make us all very happy. Her success is a source of great joy for our community.”

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press