Kamala Harris’ Ancestral Village In India Celebrates As Joe Biden Endorses Her

Thulasendrapuram, a quaint village in Tamil Nadu, India, is preparing to celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris as she nears becoming the Democratic nominee and possibly the next President of the United States.

Following US President Joe Biden’s announcement on X that he is withdrawing from the presidential race, Kamala Harris has emerged as a leading candidate for the Democratic ticket.

As endorsements and support for Harris flood in, the village of Thulasendrapuram, located 12,900 km from Washington DC and her maternal ancestral home, is eagerly awaiting this moment, Reuters reports.

Harris’ maternal grandfather was born in Thulasendrapuram, a place she visited when she was five years old. She fondly remembers walking along the Chennai beach, which is 320 km from the village, with him.

Although Harris has not returned to the village since becoming Vice President, the local pride and enthusiasm for her continued success remain strong. In 2021, the village celebrated her Vice Presidency with fireworks, posters, calendars featuring her picture, and free chocolate.

According to The New York Times, the village held a special ceremony in their temple to pray for Harris and even inscribed her name within the temple. Many villagers affectionately referred to her as the “daughter of the village.”

As Harris’ political career progresses, the village expects even grander celebrations. K Kaliyaperumal, a member of the village committee, told Reuters that if Harris were to win the presidency, the celebration would be immense, likening it to the nationwide joy experienced during India’s recent cricket World Cup victory.

Villagers have been following her progress through news and television and hope for some acknowledgment if she succeeds. G Manikandan, a local shopkeeper, remarked, “Residents expected a visit, statement or at least a mention about the village, but that didn’t happen.” He added that while calendars with her picture were once common, they have faded but might return with renewed enthusiasm.

Despite some disappointment over not receiving a mention, SV Ramanan, who manages a temple dedicated to Harris’ family deity, expressed understanding. He noted that as Harris is an American, she might not be aware of the village’s excitement, comparing it to cheering for a racehorse that “doesn’t understand why you are shouting and why you are clapping.”