Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-origin American entrepreneur, has emerged as a noteworthy figure in the 2024 presidential election as a Republican candidate. Born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati to Hindu Tamil Brahmin immigrant parents, Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy has a strong connection to his ancestral home in Palakkad, Kerala.
Raised within a blend of cultures, Vivek attended a Catholic school affiliated with the Jesuit order, reflecting his diverse upbringing. He holds strong ties to his Hindu faith and his mother tongue Tamil, remaining committed to vegetarianism and a belief in a single god. His wife, Apoorva Ramaswamy, a physician, whom he met during his law studies at Yale, shares in his journey, and together they have two sons.
Vivek’s professional journey has been dynamic, marked by significant contributions to various fields. In 2007, he co-founded Campus Venture Network, a social networking platform for aspiring student entrepreneurs. Concurrently, he worked at the hedge fund QVT Financial until 2014. Notably, in 2014, he established Roivant Sciences, a biotechnology company focused on acquiring medical patents and introducing new medicines to the market. Although he stepped down as the CEO in 2021, he maintains a significant stake as the sixth-largest shareholder.
Announcing his candidacy on Tucker Carlson Tonight in February 2023 marked the pinnacle of Vivek’s political aspirations, though his involvement in politics has been evident for years. His support for Donald Trump in the 2020 election, combined with substantial contributions to both Republican and Democratic causes, showcases his political engagement.
During his ongoing presidential campaign, Vivek has garnered attention for his distinctive ideology and eloquence. While discussions around LGBTQ+ rights and gender have gained prominence in the US, Vivek’s stance stands out—he contends that there are only two genders and opposes what he terms the ‘tyranny of the minority,’ particularly the imposition of adult gender perspectives on children.
His campaign also includes unconventional proposals, such as raising the voting age from 18 to 25, and more controversially, dismantling institutions he believes have been tainted beyond reform, including the FBI, Department of Education, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He also aims to achieve international peace by resolving conflicts in Ukraine and dismantling the China-Russia military alliance, drawing parallels with President Nixon’s approach in 1972.
