In honor of her late mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, an American expatriate, whose courage and commitment to her home continue to inspire her only weeks before the November 5 votes, US vice chairman and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris paid tribute to her later family. Harris reflected on the principles her family instilled in her, which she claims are the foundational principles of her day.
Dr. Shyamala Gopalan Harris, my mother, arrived in the United States alone at the age of 19 and shared acherished picture of her younger home alongside her mother, according to Harris in a blog. She fought and fought to become the person I am today.
Through an op-ed in South Asian release The Juggernaut, Harris recounted her mother’s journey from India to America and the tradition of courage, devotion, and passion that her family instilled in her. The history of Shyamala, who arrived in the United States alone at 19 to undertake a doctoral degree in California, is key to Harris’s personal life and career.
Harris claims that she and her sister Maya had a strong recognition for their American history when they were growing up. They were almost always taken to India by their family, especially during Diwali, a day of family meetings and rituals. My mother taught my girlfriend and I how to love and honor our heritage as we were growing up. Almost every other year, we would go to India for Diwali. We may spend time with our parents, our brothers, and our chitthis”, Harris shared.
She added,” And as Vice President, it has been my pride to sponsor Diwali events in my house- the Vice President’s House. Not only to honor the holiday, but to enjoy the rich history, tradition, and history of the South Asian American community, which is bound together by a shared sense of possibility and conviction in the promises of America”,
Harris detailed the goals that drove her mother in her op-ed: to lift her daughters with dignity and advance in the fight against breast cancers. ” My family had two goals in her life: to lift her two sons, my sister Maya and me, and to treat breast tumor”, Harris wrote.
She fondly recalled trips to India as a child, particularly to visit her grandfather, PV Gopalan, a retired civil servant in Chennai ( then Madras ). Harris often joined him on long morning walks along the beach, where he spoke passionately about democracy, justice, and the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs. ” Those lessons first inspired my interest in public service”, she wrote, noting that her grandfather’s influence continues to guide her today as both Vice President and presidential candidate.
As the day of the election, Harris emphasized her commitment to ensuring universal healthcare for all Americans, a goal that is closely linked to both her mother’s legacy as a cancer researcher and the difficulties she faced in herself. Our healthcare system frequently ignores South Asian Americans, particularly those who have conditions like heart disease and diabetes, Harris wrote.
In response to the immigration debate, Harris proposed a system that combines compassion and security. She wrote,” I reject the false choice between securing our border and creating a system of immigration that is orderly and humane.” Harris praised a bipartisan border security bill that would curtail illegal crossings while also safeguarding immigrants, many of whom, she noted, are from communities like hers.
On foreign policy, Harris drew a sharp contrast with her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, critiquing his record on diplomacy and commitment to US alliances. ” As Vice President, I have expanded our relationships with key South Asian partners, including India”, she said. Unlike Trump, whom she described as “unfit” due to his connections with authoritarian leaders, Harris pledged to reinforce America’s alliances and uphold its leadership on the world stage.
Shyamala Gopalan, Harris’s mother, moved to California in the early 1960s, where she met Jamaican economist Donald Harris during the fervent years of the civil rights movement.
Kamala Harris was born in 1964, and she frequently marched with her mother in a society where activism and social change are prevalent. After her parents ‘ divorce, she was primarily raised by her mother, who worked long hours and kept a tight budget.
Harris frequently recalls her mother sorting through the bills, making sure her daughters ‘ futures were secure and fulfilling, and sitting down with a cup of tea at night.
