Okay, just don’t get uptight looking at the headline. It is more a satirical perspective, so chill. As you know, Nepalese are the kind of people who see nothing good in their own culture and their country but rave about everything foreign? You bet, that is why Nepalese are spread out across the world. There was a time, and we even made jokes in our plays in school about how “Marwaris” are the ones found everywhere. Well, Nepalese have now conquered the world by infecting many countries. Come to think of it, just couple of days ago, there was a news about a Nepali guy arrested for threatening a politician in Belgium.
Well, what are the reasons Nepalese would find to celebrate in the Kamala Harris selection by Biden as the first female, first Black, first South Asian candidate for that high office?
First reason is the historical significance of Harris. That is because Nepal loves making history and Kamala spells history. Nepalese have made history across time. Tenzing Norgay became the first person to climb Everest, even though he was a Sherpa helping a New Zealander. Serving is in Nepal’s nature. Arniko made history by going to China and setting the example for future Nepalese. He taught China pagoda style architecture, married and settled there, probably to be the first Nepali to immigrate and settle abroad. And another history that needs to be cherished is a small town boy from a small kingdom who left home and went to India and found enlightenment to become the “Buddha.” Yes, Nepalese have so many historical feats that they love anything historical so Kamala Harris made history with the entry into the 2020 presidential fray in 2020.
I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 11, 2020
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Second reason Nepalese rejoice is because she is a powerful female. It reminds of them of their culture of worshipping Goddess. We have pantheon of Goddesses, especially because we cannot have single Gods wandering around. Each God is paired up with an equally devout, faithful and supportive consort, like Parbati for Shiva, Laxmi for Bishnu and Radha for Krishna, Sita for Rama, and the list goes on. The point is that Nepalese like a strong female figure to venerate. In Kamala Harris they find all that trait befitting a Goddess. She has been brought to slay the dragon called racial injustice. The struggle for “Black Lives Matter” movement is also the right stage for making an emphatic statement by Goddess Harris. She is here to slay Republicans just like Durga slayed Mahisasur.
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The third reason for Kamala Harris to resonate with Nepalese is her name itself, which goes with her look. She is unlike any other political candidate of the top tiers who have made it to the big league. Her name Kamala is right from the Hindu pantheon. Her first name is rooted in Sanskrit, the ancient language the ascetic rishis used to speak. Kamala represents something, unlike the Western name that means nothing, unless you consider the current revered president Donald Trump. He is just like his name. Well, that is beside the point. Let’s consider the meaning of her name. Kamala means lotus, the spiritual symbol of enlightenment. It also represents Godsess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. And for Nepalese American is another name for golden opportunities hence many dream to immigrate to America and get a green card. Harris is a representation of that dream because she was an immigrant family, first generation child. Nepalese feel some hope with her.
Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body?pic.twitter.com/lDcXPZ56hX
— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) September 6, 2018
Fourth reason is basically the appearance. She is an immigrant born to a South Indian mother who was a tough mother married to a Jamaican man. Both of them remind Nepalese of what is possible in America. She understands South Asia because she visited India as a kid and spent time with her grandfather taking a walk along the beach and listening to the talk on fighting for democracy and civil rights. She even mentioned her interest to launch a South Asian Forum for community. Well, since so many Nepalese are heading to America, certainly they would be happy to join that movement.
Now, let’s come to the final point why Nepalese love the Harris pick. It is all about fulfilling their dream. As we all know, president Trump despite doing the impossible and historic task of making America great again, he has been a tad too tough on immigrants and even threatened to stop the DV lottery program. On no! What will Nepalese live for, if the DV program is stopped totally? What will they dream of and how will they ever go to America without the top end academic achievements? So, to keep their American dream alive, they need Harris and Biden ticket to come victorious so that they can fill DV lottery every year and live their American dream whether in the land of opportunity or their own land of impunity.
I questioned Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The American people don’t deserve evasion – we deserve the truth. pic.twitter.com/rIcE6ATDcl
— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) June 14, 2017
By the look of it, Nepalese are in for a great ride in the coming decade. Goddess Kamala Devi has come to their rescue. Om Nama Shivaya.
The writer is a graduate of Arizona State University in Political Science. He is working as a social activist and motivational speaker for students across Nepal since 2007. He also blogs at Strong Blog.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necesarily reflect the official policy or position of Nepalisite.
11 things you need to know about Kamala Harris
- Kamala Devi Harris was born in Oakland, California on Oct 20th, 1964 to Indian Mother Shyamala Gopalan, and Jamaican Father, Donald J Harris.
- Both Kamala’s father and mother earned PHD from UC Berkeley where they met. Shyamala Gopalan (1938–2009) earned her PHD in nutrition and endocrinology at UC Berkeley in 1964, same year Kamala was born.
- Kamala has one younger sister, Maya Harris (January 30, 1967) who got her bachelor degree from UC Berkeley, her parents’ alma matter.
- Kamala’s parents divorced in 1971, when she was 7 years old.
- Kamala have visited Jamaica and India when she was growing up.
- She is also the first person from a state west of Texas to ever appear on a Democratic ticket.
- Kamala grew up going both to Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple.
- Kamala attended middle school and finished high school in Montreal, Canada. She was 12 when she and her sister had moved with their mother to Montreal, after their mother got a job at the McGill University-affiliated Jewish General Hospital.
- Harris was the San Francisco district attorney for 7 years, and California’s attorney general for 6 years before becoming a senator in 2017.
- Harris married attorney Douglas Emhoff in 2014 and shares two step children. Her step children call her “Momala.”
- Kamala Harris is the third female vice presidential running mate on a major party ticket after Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008.
Kamala Harris speaking at 2012 Democratic National Convention.
