She was able to show that part of her identity with the word ‘chitthi.’
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Harris knew the one word she said in Tamil would create vibrations. But, he said it because he showed his commitment to his identity, his culture. “(Rahman) said that in a major awards ceremony, with the world watching,” Muralikrishnan said. Rahman’s speech after winning the Oscar for Best Musical Score in 2009 for the film “Slumdog Millionaire.” He concluded his speech with the Tamil phrase: “Ella pugazhum iraivanukke.” It means “all glory goes to God.” I think she would do a better job leading the country because she has had this extraordinary exposure to different cultures and traditions.”Īs a Tamil American, Muralikrishnan said, language matters, especially because Tamils take great pride in it. “She knows Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism. “I’m okay with her multiple identities,” Muralikrishnan said. Harris’ complex background reflects the Indian American community in Southern California and around the country, which itself is a product of different cultures and religious beliefs, said Rose Muralikrishnan, a music instructor who teaches South Indian classical music in Artesia, home to Little India. Her stepchildren call her “Mamala,” a play on the Yiddish word “mamele,” which means “little mama,” a term of endearment for moms. And she’s married to Douglas Emhoff, a Brooklyn-born lawyer who is Jewish. She grew up in a household that accommodated Hindu and Christian religious practices. She is a member of Third Baptist Church of San Francisco. “Kamala” is an Sanskrit word that means “lotus” and “Lakshmi,” the goddess of wealth and fortune. Her religious identity has sparked interest as well. Many also have questioned Harris’ attachment to her Tamil and Hindu roots. And there are other factions that oppose the Biden-Harris ticket because of the candidates’ perceived opposition to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to Kashmir, a contentious, decades-old territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. There is a smaller group that supports President Trump and, as such, doesn’t want Harris to win.
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Within the world of Indian Americans and Tamil Americans, who tend to vote Democrat, Harris’ speech, and her candidacy, generally have been warmly received.īut like all ethnic and religious communities, Indians, Tamils and Hindus in the United States are not monolithic. Not only did she say chitthi on television, but she did it during an historic moment - as the first woman of color, Black American and Asian American, to accept the vice presidential nomination. But her Tamil ancestry has garnered attention mostly since her acceptance speech, after she dropped the word in her mother’s native language. Harris’ mixed Jamaican and Indian heritage is widely known.
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Kamala Harris’ candidacy gives Tamil Americans a moment in the spotlight – Orange County Register Close Menu