As Donald Trump celebrated his election victory, a small village in southern India felt a special connection to the historic moment. While many American cities erupted in excitement, in the rural village of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, the focus was on a lesser-known but deeply personal connection: the rising political prominence of Tulsi Gabbard, a former Congresswoman from Hawaii, who was born to Indian immigrant parents.
Though Tulsi’s campaign for the White House ended in an early primary exit, her legacy as the first Hindu-American candidate for president left a lasting impression on this corner of India. Residents in Nellore, the birthplace of her father Madhava Gabbard, are hopeful that the next chapter in her political career will bring recognition to their village and the surrounding region.
“We’re proud of her,” said Raghavendra Rao, 56, a farmer in Nellore, as he watched Gabbard’s campaign speeches on his mobile phone. “She is one of our own. She has Indian roots, and she’s made it big in America. We hope she will bring attention to our village and improve life here.”
Tulsi Gabbard, who served as a U.S. Army officer and gained national recognition for her foreign policy expertise, has often spoken about her father’s roots in the village of Nellore. While Tulsi herself has never visited the village, her father frequently makes trips back to his homeland, keeping the connection alive. Several local elders, like Vasudev Sharma, recall Gabbard’s visits as a child, describing her as “a bright young girl with big dreams.”
“We have always known Tulsi would make it far. She is one of us, and it brings us pride,” said Sharma, a retired teacher. “Though she’s far away, we feel her success will one day help us here.”
In Nellore, where farmers struggle with inconsistent rainfall and limited access to modern healthcare, many hope that Gabbard’s recognition in the U.S. government could help improve the village’s prospects. Priest Raghunandan, who oversees the local temple, voiced similar sentiments. “If she remembers her roots, she might help us in some way,” he said, lighting incense at the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Despite the distance, the pride in Gabbard’s achievements is palpable among the village’s residents. “We always believed she would go far,” said Lakshmi Reddy, 64. “And now, with all her success, we hope she can make a difference here. She knows what it’s like to struggle, and perhaps, she’ll use her influence to help the people who helped her father get to America.”
While Gabbard’s campaign was not successful, her rise to prominence has become a symbol of possibility for many in the village. The villagers of Nellore see in her the fulfillment of dreams they themselves might never realize—a path from modest beginnings to the halls of power.
Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) away, in the southern Tamil Nadu village of Palayampatti, Sundari Murugan, a local schoolteacher, reflected on the growing visibility of Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President, whose maternal side hails from India. In Palayampatti, where Harris’s grandfather once lived, the people are similarly proud of the achievements of this trailblazing figure.
“Kamala Harris is an inspiration to us,” said Murugan, pointing to a poster of Harris in her classroom. “She has become a symbol for girls here. Many of them now aspire to study further and follow in her footsteps.”
In Palayampatti, the community feels connected to Harris through her family’s deep ties to the region. “If Kamala visits one day, we will welcome her as our own,” said Ravi Kumar, a local fisherman. “She is as much a part of our village as anyone else.”
