Usha Vance, the Second Lady of the United States and wife of Vice President J.D. Vance, gave an exclusive interview to NDTV during her family’s visit to India, describing the journey as a “trip of a lifetime.” A proud Indian-American, she spoke warmly about the significance of introducing her children to their cultural roots, the blend of traditions in her personal life, and her family’s enthusiastic immersion into Indian history, cuisine, and heritage during their visit.
Usha emphasized that it was her children’s first trip to India, and they were thrilled to finally experience the stories and flavors they had heard about growing up. Highlights of their visit included exploring the historic Amer Fort, where her children, especially fascinated with military history and pretend battles, let their imaginations roam. Even the youngest, only three years old, joined in on the excitement, pretending alongside her older siblings. The architectural grandeur of Amer Fort, its blend of Hindu and Persian influences, and its historical significance left a deep impression on both Usha and her husband. They appreciated the visual representation of India’s layered cultural heritage and enjoyed experiencing this with their children.
Food played a central role during the trip. Usha, whose family hails from Andhra Pradesh, described their home as a vegetarian household with strong culinary traditions. Her husband, previously a “meat and potatoes” man, now enjoys cooking Indian dishes like chana masala and lamb curries, often guided by recipes from Usha’s family. Usha’s father is also skilled in preparing dosa and pesarattu. Her grandmother, a master of Andhra-style chutneys, finds ingredients in local Indian stores in the U.S.
Touching on personal heritage, Usha shared that their wedding featured both a traditional American and a Hindu ceremony, symbolizing their multicultural lives. This blending of traditions reflects the broader theme of cultural integration that the family embraces. She noted that having both ceremonies was important to her because of the example set by her parents and grandparents.
As part of the official leg of their visit, the family met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended a puppet show at his residence, which vividly portrayed scenes from the Ramayana using Andhra shadow puppetry.
The children, who are already familiar with Indian epics, were captivated. Usha noted that their love for the Ramayana and Mahabharata comes from being surrounded by books—an influence inherited from her own upbringing in a scholarly Indian household.
The Vances also visited elephants at Amer Fort, watched traditional Indian dance performances, and enjoyed wearing Indian outfits that Usha carefully picked online prior to the trip.
She described the joy of seeing her children in traditional attire and being embraced so warmly by people in India. Looking ahead, Usha said they were excited to visit the Taj Mahal, especially to witness her children’s reactions to its breathtaking architecture. She closed the interview by calling the visit a deeply meaningful journey for her entire family, one that marks the beginning of many future trips to India.
