Candidate for President of the United States, Kamala Harris‘ might be having one of the biggest days of her life tomorrow, November 5. But it is a known fact that the 49th Vice President of the US, Kamala Devi Harris credits all her strength and resilience to her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris.
Shyamala Gopalan Harris was an Indian-American biomedical scientist and civil rights activist known for her research in breast cancer. Born in Chennai, India, in 1938, she moved to the U.S. for graduate studies at UC Berkeley, where she earned her Ph.D. in endocrinology and nutrition. Her research contributed significantly to understanding hormone receptors in breast cancer, paving the way for advancements in treatment. Beyond her scientific work, she was a dedicated advocate for civil rights, inspiring her daughters, Kamala Harris, and Maya Harris, a public policy advocate. Shyamala’s legacy is a blend of scientific and social impact.
As Kamala Harris, the American politician and attorney, is all set for the election result, let’s revisit those times when she fondly remembered her mother, her pillar of strength.

“Make sure you are not the last”

“I was raised by a mother who said that to me all the time: ‘Kamala, well, you may be the first to do many things—make sure you’re not the last.’ And that’s how I feel about this moment.”

“Missing her terribly”

During the 2020 election, Kamala’s sister Maya Harris took to social media, X to write about her mother. “You can’t know who Kamala Harris is without knowing who our mother was. Missing her terribly, but know she and the ancestors are smiling today.”

“Do something”

In 2020, sharing a picture of her as a toddler with her mother, Kamala wrote: My mother always used to say, “Don’t just sit around and complain about things. Do something.” I dearly wish she were here with us this week. Shyamala Gopalan Harris was a renowned scientist, known for her work in breast cancer research.

“She was born with a sense of justice imprinted on her soul.”

In her autobiography, The Truths We Hold, Kamala wrote: “My mother had been raised in a household where political activism and civic leadership came naturally. From both of my grandparents, my mother developed a keen political consciousness. She was conscious of history, conscious of struggle, conscious of inequities. She was born with a sense of justice imprinted on her soul.”