Shyamala Gopalan, the mother of United States Vice President Kamala Harris, was a figure whose life and achievements played a significant role in shaping Harris’s identity and career. Gopalan’s journey from India to the United States, her career in scientific research, and her involvement in social activism are all essential aspects of her legacy.
Born in Chennai, India (formerly Madras), Gopalan’s family had a deep connection to the country’s struggle for independence. Her grandfather was a civil servant and an advocate for India’s freedom from British rule, a background that likely influenced Gopalan’s own activist leanings. At the age of 19, Gopalan made the life-altering decision to move to the United States to pursue higher education. She arrived in California, enrolling at the University of California, Berkeley, where she would become deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement. This participation reflected her unwavering commitment to social justice, a value she would later impart to her children.
Gopalan’s academic journey was marked by significant achievements. By the age of 25, she had earned her doctorate in endocrinology from UC Berkeley, establishing herself as a prominent breast cancer researcher. Her work in this field contributed to advancements in understanding and treating breast cancer, solidifying her position as a respected figure in the scientific community. While at Berkeley, Gopalan met Donald Harris, a Jamaican student who would later become an esteemed economist. The two married in 1963, and their union produced two daughters, Kamala and Maya Harris. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1971, after which Gopalan raised her daughters largely on her own.
Despite the challenges she faced as a single mother and an immigrant, Gopalan was determined to provide her daughters with a strong sense of identity and purpose. She raised Kamala and Maya in a household that celebrated both their Indian and African American heritage. Kamala Harris has frequently spoken about how her mother immersed her in Indian culture, teaching her about traditional South Indian customs, food, and language. “All of my mother’s words of affection or frustration came out in her mother tongue — which seems fitting to me since the purity of those emotions is what I associate with my mother most of all,” Harris wrote in her memoir. Gopalan also ensured that her daughters were aware of the racial realities they would face in the United States. Despite her own Indian roots, Gopalan recognized that her daughters would be perceived as Black women in American society. As Harris wrote, “My mother understood very well that she was raising two Black daughters. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud Black women.”
Kamala Harris has often credited her mother with shaping her views on justice and public service. In her speeches, Harris frequently references Gopalan’s influence, particularly in terms of her mother’s unwavering commitment to activism and her insistence on taking action against injustice. “My mother taught us to never complain about injustice but to do something about it,” Harris said during her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Gopalan’s impact on Harris’s life is further evident in the US vice president’s professional choices. Harris’s decision to pursue a career in law and public service was heavily influenced by the values instilled in her by her mother. During her time as a prosecutor, US Senator, and now the United States Vice President, Harris has often drawn on the lessons learned from her mother’s life. In fact, Harris herself acknowledges the direct influence of her mother’s words on her political rhetoric. In one notable instance, she recalled Gopalan’s words: “I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” This quote not only became a popular soundbite but also highlighted Gopalan’s emphasis on understanding the historical and social context of one’s actions.
Gopalan maintained a strong connection to her roots in India, a connection that she passed on to her daughters. Harris has often spoken about her trips to India as a child, where she spent time with her maternal grandfather, PV Gopalan, in Chennai. These visits played a crucial role in shaping her early political consciousness. The family’s village in Tamil Nadu, Thulasendrapuram, remains an important symbol of Harris’s heritage, and residents there have continued to maintain ties with the family. In her public life, Harris has not shied away from acknowledging her South Asian heritage. She has celebrated traditional Indian festivals, cooked South Indian dishes, and highlighted the cultural significance of her background. However, she has also made it clear that her mother’s primary concern was ensuring that her daughters were equipped to navigate the world as Black women in America.
Shyamala Gopalan’s achievements in the field of breast cancer research, her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, and her dedication to raising her daughters with a strong sense of identity and purpose have left an indelible mark on Kamala Harris and, by extension, on American politics. Kamala Harris’s acknowledgment of her mother during her acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination served as a testament to the profound impact Gopalan had on her life. “My mother Shyamala Harris had one of her own. I miss her every day – especially now. And I know she’s looking down tonight, and smiling,” Harris said, reflecting on her mother’s enduring influence. Shyamala Gopalan passed away in 2009.
