On the third day of the Democratic National Convention, prominent Indian Americans took the spotlight to share their stories and bolster Vice President Kamala Devi Harris’s presidential bid.
Mindy Kaling, renowned actress, comedian, and producer, hosted the primetime segment of the convention. Introducing herself with characteristic humor, Kaling referred to her viral 2019 Instagram video where she and then-Senator Harris cooked dosas together. “We clicked instantly,” Kaling reminisced about their time in her Los Angeles home, reflecting on their shared experience of losing their mothers to cancer. She praised Harris’s cooking skills, noting, “Kamala was so much better than me.” Despite her own cooking prowess, Kaling appreciated Harris’s encouragement and support during their time together.
Mini Timmaraju, president and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All, took the stage to emphasize the critical nature of reproductive rights in the upcoming election. She strongly criticized Donald Trump and JD Vance’s positions on women’s issues, contrasting them with Harris’s dedication to restoring reproductive freedom. Timmaraju challenged the audience to consider whether they wanted a president who penalizes women for abortions or one who trusts them, and highlighted Harris’s personal experience with fertility treatments as a testament to her commitment to women’s rights.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, the city’s first Asian American mayor, also spoke in support of the Harris-Walz ticket. Sharing his background as the son of a Tibetan refugee and an Indian father, Pureval praised the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts on infrastructure, particularly the long-promised repair of the Brent Spence Bridge. He noted that while many politicians had previously promised to address the issue, it was Joe Biden who delivered with the bipartisan infrastructure law, aiming to mend and enhance the vital connection between Ohio and Kentucky.
The evening commenced with an invocation by Rakesh Bhatt, a Hindu priest from the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland. Delivering the prayer in both Sanskrit and English, Bhatt called for unity despite differences, emphasizing the need for collective progress toward justice. “We are one universal family,” he said, urging a journey from illusion to reality, darkness to light, and mortality to immortality.
