In the village of Vadluru, located in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, celebrations broke out following Donald Trump’s 2024 US election victory. While the world’s attention was focused on the Republican festivities in the United States, villagers here were celebrating a more personal connection — the potential rise of Usha Vance, a descendant of the village, to the role of “Second Lady” of the United States.
Usha Vance, a successful lawyer and academic, is married to J.D. Vance, the running mate of Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Despite being born and raised in the United States, Usha’s family roots are deeply embedded in Vadluru, where her paternal ancestors lived before emigrating to America. Villagers, proud of Usha’s success, offered prayers during the election, hoping that her future prominence could bring improvements to their small village.
Vadluru’s Connection to Usha Vance
Usha Vance’s father, Chilukuri Radhakrishnan, a PhD holder, grew up in Chennai before moving to the United States for further studies. The village of Vadluru, where Radhakrishnan’s family originates, had never forgotten its ties to the Vance family. The villagers believe that if Usha rises to a significant political role, such as Second Lady, she might give back to the place that played a part in shaping her heritage.
“We support Trump,” says Srinivasa Raju, a local resident of Vadluru. “We feel happy to see Usha’s success, and we hope she will help our village.” Local Hindu priest Appaji echoed these sentiments, praying for a Trump victory and hoping that Usha would honor her roots by contributing to the welfare of the village.
Villagers’ Hopes for Usha Vance
Although Usha has never visited Vadluru, her father returned to the village three years ago and checked on the local temple, leaving a lasting impression on the community. “If she can recognize her roots and do something good for this village, that would be great,” said priest Appaji.
Residents like 70-year-old Venkata Ramanayy expressed immense pride in Usha’s achievements, saying, “Every Indian feels proud of Usha because she is of Indian origin. We hope she will develop our village.” The villagers remain hopeful that Usha’s success will have a positive impact on the community, similar to the changes they saw during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Global Impact and Inspiration
While Vadluru celebrates the potential future of Usha Vance, another Indian village, Thulasendrapuram, celebrates the achievements of Kamala Harris, the first female Vice President of the United States. Harris’s story has inspired girls in the region to pursue education, just as Usha’s rise to the “Second Lady” position is now providing hope for Vadluru residents.
T.S. Anbarasu, a resident of Thulasendrapuram, said, “Kamala Harris’s struggle has encouraged girls to stay in school. She is inspiring this village.”
The Power of Indian Immigrant Stories
The success stories of both Usha Vance and Kamala Harris reflect the growing influence of Indian-origin individuals in American politics. As the US Census shows, Indians are the second-largest Asian ethnicity in the United States, contributing significantly to the cultural and political landscape.
Usha Vance, who studied at prestigious universities like Yale and Cambridge, married J.D. Vance in 2014, and they now have three children. Her potential role as the Second Lady could further elevate the profile of Indian Americans in politics, providing inspiration to millions back home in India.
Conclusion
The residents of Vadluru have demonstrated the power of hope, belief, and connection, celebrating the potential of Usha Vance’s future success as if it were their own. Their support for Donald Trump’s victory is also deeply tied to their desire for Usha to uplift her ancestral village, proving that even the smallest communities in India are linked to the global success stories of their descendants.