On Tuesday, The Associated Press published an Election Day story from the southern Indian village of Thulasendrapuram—the birthplace of Vice President Kamala Harris’s maternal grandfather. Residents there revere her and hope that she becomes the next U.S. president.
But this is just one of many views that Indians hold of Harris. Her Indian ancestry may provoke warmth and respect in her grandfather’s hometown, but other Indians perceive that she has held back from embracing her Indian roots, at least publicly.
Though Harris has spoken about that background, including in her speech at the Democratic National Convention and while feting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a State Department luncheon last year, she hasn’t visited India often in recent years. (She has reportedly never been to Thulasendrapuram.)
Some Indians fear that as president, Harris would, like many Democrats, focus unwelcome attention on India’s internal affairs, including its human rights record. Others see her as a strong backer of the U.S.-India partnership who can build on two decades of growth in bilateral ties and fast-growing spaces for cooperation to take the relationship to new heights.
This post is part of FP’s live coverage with global updates and analysis throughout the U.S. election. Follow along here.