Indians around the world erupted in celebration as Mr Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old Ugandan-born politician of Indian descent, was elected Mayor of New York City (NYC) on Nov 5, becoming both the city’s youngest mayor in over a century and its first Muslim leader.
His win, marked by a victory speech quoting former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny”, has sparked pride, nostalgia, and political debate across India.
At a jubilant rally in Queens, Mr Mamdani – flanked by his parents, acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani – declared: “A moment comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new. Tonight, we have stepped out from the old into the new.”
The new mayor was also joined on stage by his wife, Rama Duwaji, a 28-year-old Syrian artist whose work can be seen mostly in digital spaces and has appeared in publications including The New Yorker and The Washington Post.
As the title track from the Bollywood hit Dhoom played, his campaign team and supporters turned the streets into a Bollywood-style celebration.
His Nehru-inspired speech quickly went viral in India, resonating deeply with those who saw his victory as both a personal and cultural triumph.
On social media, hashtags like #ZohranMamdani and #ProudIndianRoots trended for hours, with Indians praising the mayor-elect for invoking India’s independence legacy.
Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar shared Mrs Nair’s post celebrating her son with the caption: “Zohran, you beauty.”
In New Delhi, Mr Mamdani’s relatives were inundated with congratulatory calls.
“We are proud of him. He has done a great job,” said his maternal uncle Vikram Nair, adding that the family plans to host celebrations in India soon.
Mr Mamdani’s victory marks a remarkable ascent for the self-described democratic socialist and state assemblyman from Queens, who defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a fiercely contested race.
His campaign – built on cost-of-living relief, free childcare, and public transit reforms – drew over 100,000 volunteers and record voter turnout exceeding two million, the highest since 1969.
In his victory address, Mr Mamdani positioned New York as a symbol of resistance and renewal.
“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light,” he said.
But, while India celebrated his Nehruvian flourish and his mother’s cinematic legacy, the win also reignited political tensions.
Critics resurfaced Mamdani’s past remarks calling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “war criminal,” drawing both backlash and debate.
Although the Indian government has not issued an official statement, opposition leader Shashi Tharoor hailed Mr Mamdani’s win as “wonderfully apt,” commending his “spectacular victory” as a reminder of India’s global diaspora influence.
Meanwhile, right-wing circles in the US reacted with hostility. MAGA supporters flooded social media with anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant slurs, some demanding Mr Mamdani be “deported to India”.
Commentators accused him of representing “foreign” interests. Despite the vitriol, progressives across the US and South Asia hailed his win as a symbolic blow to Trump-era politics.
For India, the moment also struck a personal chord. Mrs Nair, known for films like Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake, has often highlighted South Asian immigrant experiences – an ethos her son now embodies in governance.
“It’s a proud day for our family and for every Indian who believes in compassion, courage, and creativity,” said a family friend from Delhi.
Mr Mamdani, who will assume office on Jan 1, joins two other Muslim Democrats of Indian origin – Mr Aftab Pureval in Cincinnati and Ms Ghazala Hashmi in Virginia – whose victories signal a broader shift in American politics.
As one Indian social media user put it: “From Nehru’s dream to New York’s mayor’s office – Zohran Mamdani has shown that India’s spirit of democracy now echoes across the world.”
For millions of Indians, Mr Mamdani’s win is more than a political milestone – it’s a celebration of heritage, resilience, and the enduring influence of Indians around the world.
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12 Jun 2025 19:16
