Chennai: Social media is full of messages from many women of Tamilnadu, who feel they empowered and encouraged with the victory of Kamala Harris as the Vice President of the United States.
“It’s a proud moment for TN’s women. Kamala has proved what we are capable of,’ read a tweet, while another said, ‘it’s time for us to celebrate Kamala’s victory. Women can achieve in any field.”
In her nomination acceptance speech earlier this year, Kamala Harris had mentioned her chithis, or aunts, in particular.
Her chithi Sarala Gopalan says, “We were glued to television and the whole family was ecstatic when the news broke.”
“Kamala has largely been inspired by her mother. She is made for great things. My sister always had it in her, that she should go on to achieve big things, and this is what I feel Kamala too has taken after,” Sarala adds.
Kamala’s grandfather P V Gopalan, a former civil servant, hails from Thulasenthirapuram in Tiruvarur district in Tamilnadu and the small village is elated over her elevation. Earlier, special prayers were conducted their for her victory.
“We always knew she would win and are extremely happy about the victory. This win means a lot more to America. They always need somebody who empathises with their issues and Kamala has great affinity with all the Afro-Americans,” Gopalan Balachandran, Kamala’s maternal uncle, said.
Shyamala Gopalan, Kamala’s mother, went to the US when she was 19. Balachandran said he was feeling proud and happy, describing Kamala Harris as a fighter.
“Biden-Harris victory is what we wanted to see. And, given the numbers, I told Kamala that she is going to win,” he said when asked if the counting process made him tense.
Kamala Harris on Sunday paid tribute to the women, particularly Black women, whose shoulders she stands on as she shatters barriers that have kept mostly white men entrenched at the highest levels of American politics for more than two centuries.
“Tonight I reflect on their struggle, their determination and the strength of their vision to see what can be unburdened by what has been,” Harris said, wearing a white suit in tribute to womenās suffrage. She called it a testament to President-elect Joe Bidenās character that “he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country, and select a woman and his vice president.”
Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, as a scion of an old and historic erstwhile ruling family of south India, congratulated the 46th US President-elect, Joe Biden and Kamala.
“We, in India, are delighted to see that the US Senator, Kamala Harris, whose mother hailed from India and was a Tamil, will serve as US Vice President, during Biden’s administration,” he added.