New Delhi: Gopalan Balachandran, the maternal uncle of the US Democratic Party's Vice-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, on Wednesday said that his family was feeling ecstatic and proud.
Speaking to the Tamil Media at Malviya Nagar in New Delhi, the 80-year-old Balachandran recalled his memories with Kamala, and also criticised US President Donald Trump's comments about her.
"Trump is tainting Kamala by calling her with inappropriate names. He has been calling her Nasty Kamala and Phony Kamala. Trump will also call her 'Indian Kamala' in future," he said.
"Kamala is my sister Shyamala's daughter. I had visited Kamala three years back when she was a senator," Balachandran said.
He added that though Kamala did not grow up in India, she visited the family often. "She often came to Chennai and Chandigarh to visit her grandparents. First, they stayed in Chennai and then we moved to Chandigarh after my father was transferred there," Balachandran said.
He fondly recalled how he had explored San Francisco along with Kamala and his daughter in 2017 when he made a short visit to the US.
"When I went there, Kamala said, 'Baalu Uncle, Vaanga Naama Oor Sutha Pogalam' (Baalu Uncle, Please come, we'll explore San Francisco). We visited eateries, hotels together and even the San Francisco bay. It is a good memory to recall as we had spent some good times along with the family members there in 2017," Balachandran said.
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Though he again visited the US last year, Balachandran failed to meet Kamala as she was busy in her campaign schedule.
Balachandran said that his sister Shyamala, Kamala's mother, had left for the US in 1958 for pursuing her doctorate.
"After completing her degree at Delhi University, Shyamala went for California to pursue her higher studies. She got married and settled there," he stated.
Gopalan also stated that he had never called Kamala in the last three years. "I did not dial her number since 2017. Also, I stopped emailing her as it would pave way for hacking and other malpractices by ill-minds," he noted.
He said he plans to visit the US once the lockdown ends.
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"It is more than three years since I met Kamala. Our family believes that she would win definitely. So, I will visit her to celebrate her victory once the lockdown is removed," he said.
Kamala Harris' mother Shyamala was born to a Chennai-based family in Adyar locality. Later, she moved along with her parents to Delhi and Chandigarh. After completing her college education, she left for the USA in 1958 for higher studies. In the USA, Shyamala married a Jamaican-origin American named Donald J Harris. The couple have two daughters - Kamala Harris and Maya Harris.
