In her speech at the Democratic National Convention, presidential candidate Kamala Harris honored her Indian-origin mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who was a pivotal influence in her life. Kamala Harris shared that her mother, just 19 years old at the time, traveled alone from India to California with a resolute dream of becoming a scientist who could cure breast cancer.
“I miss her every day, especially now,” Harris said. “I know she’s looking down and smiling.”
Kamala’s sister, Maya Harris, also spoke about their family’s journey, noting how their mother moved to the U.S. seeking a better life and encouraging her daughters to shape their own futures. Maya Harris described their mother’s journey as “a distinctly American story.”
Maya also reflected on what their late mother would say if she were present, expressing pride in her daughters but also reminding them to keep working.
Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a renowned biomedical scientist, passed away in 2009, a year before Kamala Harris was elected as California’s Attorney General.
Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, the first Black person, and the first Indian-American to become Vice President of the United States.