US Vice President and the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has on multiple occasions referred to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and the experience of being the child of an immigrant.

But, who was Shyamala Gopalan? Read to find out!

<h2>Love for science</h2>

Shyamala Gopalan was a biomedical scientist whose work influenced the progress of breast cancer research and helped develop other fields of cancer research.

Gopalan was born in British India’s Madras Presidency.

Encouraged by her mother and father, Shyamala applied and got into the University of California and soon started to make a name for herself.

<h2>Big shoes to fill?</h2>

Kamala’s connection with her mother is known, but her relationship with her father, Donald Jasper Harris, has often come under attack by those on the other side of the political spectrum.

No matter the case, the accomplishments of Shyamala Gopalan have been extraordinary, not just because she may have raised the next President of the United States, but also as a highly successful individual.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiO2ZLFk7SJAxXpTWwGHdZXCZkQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-us-presidential-elections-in-2020-led-to-capitol-attack-which-sent-democracy-into-throes-771696" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/how-us-presidential-elections-in-2020-led-to-capitol-attack-which-sent-democracy-into-throes-771696&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiO2ZLFk7SJAxXpTWwGHdZXCZkQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">How US presidential elections in 2020 led to Capitol attack which sent democracy into throes?</a>

Gopalan’s decision to move to the USA as an immigrant in an era that did not see many women travelling abroad, is path-breaking.

According to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS), in the entirety of the 1950s, only 1973 Indians were allowed to enter ‘the land of the brave and the free’.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiO2ZLFk7SJAxXpTWwGHdZXCZkQxfQBKAB6BAgUEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/after-us-elections-america-faces-dark-clouds-771714" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/after-us-elections-america-faces-dark-clouds-771714&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiO2ZLFk7SJAxXpTWwGHdZXCZkQxfQBKAB6BAgUEAE">After US elections, America faces dark clouds</a>

In Berkeley, says Politico, less than 2% of all students were not white when Gopalan joined. Being an immigrant Indian woman in a land that had a history of racism could not have been easy.

Besides, the gritty Gopalan married Donald Harris, four years before the USA made interracial marriage legal across the country, signalling a personality that did not conform.

<h2>Lasting legacy</h2>

Shyamala Gopalan Harris died on February 11, 2009, leaving a legacy that will be cherished by everyone from scientists to academicians and breast cancer survivors across the world. Gopalan was a unique person, not just because she gave birth to Kamala Harris, but also because the pressure of being a circle in a world full of squares is immense.

<h2>Like mother, like daughter</h2>

It will soon be clear if Kamala Harris makes it to the White House or not. But Shyamala Gopalan had already made it big, much before her illustrious and often controversial&nbsp;daughter.

US Vice President and the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has on multiple occasions referred to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and the experience of being the child of an immigrant.

US Vice President and the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has on multiple occasions referred to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and the experience of being the child of an immigrant. But, who was Shyamala Gopalan? Read to find out! Love for science Shyamala Gopalan was a biomedical scientist whose work influenced the progress of breast cancer research and helped develop other fields of cancer research. Gopalan was born in British India’s Madras Presidency. Encouraged by her mother and father, Shyamala applied and got into the University of California and soon started to make a name for herself. Big shoes to fill? Kamala’s connection with her mother is known, but her relationship with her father, Donald Jasper Harris, has often come under attack by those on the other side of the political spectrum. No matter the case, the accomplishments of Shyamala Gopalan have been extraordinary, not just because she may have raised the next President of the United States, but also as a highly successful individual. Also read: How US presidential elections in 2020 led to Capitol attack which sent democracy into throes? Gopalan’s decision to move to the USA as an immigrant in an era that did not see many women travelling abroad, is path-breaking. According to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS), in the entirety of the 1950s, only 1973 Indians were allowed to enter ‘the land of the brave and the free’. Also read: After US elections, America faces dark clouds In Berkeley, says Politico, less than 2% of all students were not white when Gopalan joined. Being an immigrant Indian woman in a land that had a history of racism could not have been easy. Besides, the gritty Gopalan married Donald Harris, four years before the USA made interracial marriage legal across the country, signalling a personality that did not conform. Lasting legacy Shyamala Gopalan Harris died on February 11, 2009, leaving a legacy that will be cherished by everyone from scientists to academicians and breast cancer survivors across the world. Gopalan was a unique person, not just because she gave birth to Kamala Harris, but also because the pressure of being a circle in a world full of squares is immense. Like mother, like daughter It will soon be clear if Kamala Harris makes it to the White House or not. But Shyamala Gopalan had already made it big, much before her illustrious and often controversial daughter.

US Elections: Not just Kamala Harris’s mother; Shyamala Gopalan was a trailblazer 

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago Friday (Aug 23) and paid tribute to her Indian-origin mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, before a jubilant crowd.&nbsp;

Taking the stage on the fourth and final day of the Democratic Party convention (DNC), Harris said her mother was only 19 when she alone traveled from India to California with an unshakeable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.

"My mother Shyamala Harris had one of her own dream and I miss her every day especially today. And I know she's looking down tonight, and smiling," she told the gathering in Chicago.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lets-get-to-business-at-dnc-kamala-harris-accepts-democratic-partys-presidential-nomination-752582">At DNC, Harris accepts Democratic Party's prez nomination, slams Trump</a>

"My mother was the primary one who raised us. Before she was able to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay. In the Bay Area, you either live in the hills or the flatlands. We lived in the flatlands—a lovely working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses, and construction workers, all of whom took great pride in tending their lawns," Harris added.

Who was Shyamala Gopalan?

Kamala Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan was a breast cancer specialist who moved abroad from Tamil Nadu in 1960 to pursue a doctorate in endocrinology at the University of California Berkeley.&nbsp;

Gopalan earned her doctorate by age 25 and went on to become a prominent breast cancer researcher. At Berkeley, she met Harris’ father, Donald Harris, whom she married in 1963 and divorced in 1971.

<img alt="Harris family" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ff8cac8e-1183-4001-acf5-045dc1696a72" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2869%29_0.png" />

"After finishing school, she was supposed to return home to a traditional arranged marriage, but she met my father, Donald Harris, a student from Jamaica. They fell in love and got married, and that act of self-determination made my sister, Maya, and me," Harris said in her speech.

Kamala's sister, Maya Harris, also spoke at the DNC and recalled how their mother moved to US from India to pursue a better life and encouraged her daughters to do follow their dreams.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oprah-winfrey-takes-veiled-dig-at-jd-vance-over-childless-cat-lady-remark-during-surprise-dnc-speech-752114">Oprah Winfrey takes veiled dig at JD Vance over 'childless cat lady' remark during surprise DNC speech</a>

She said, "Mommy's journey, and the opportunities she sought for Kamala and me represent a distinctly American story."

Maya also mentioned that if their late mother was here, she would say how proud she was of her daughter. Then, "without missing a beat, she'd say, "That's enough. You've got work to do."

(With inputs from agencies)

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago Friday (Aug 23) and paid tribute to her Indian-origin mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, before a jubilant crowd.

Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago Friday (Aug 23) and paid tribute to her Indian-origin mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, before a jubilant crowd. Taking the stage on the fourth and final day of the Democratic Party convention (DNC), Harris said her mother was only 19 when she alone traveled from India to California with an unshakeable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer. "My mother Shyamala Harris had one of her own dream and I miss her every day especially today. And I know she's looking down tonight, and smiling," she told the gathering in Chicago. Also read: At DNC, Harris accepts Democratic Party's prez nomination, slams Trump "My mother was the primary one who raised us. Before she was able to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay. In the Bay Area, you either live in the hills or the flatlands. We lived in the flatlands—a lovely working-class neighborhood of firefighters, nurses, and construction workers, all of whom took great pride in tending their lawns," Harris added. Who was Shyamala Gopalan? Kamala Harris' mother Shyamala Gopalan was a breast cancer specialist who moved abroad from Tamil Nadu in 1960 to pursue a doctorate in endocrinology at the University of California Berkeley. Gopalan earned her doctorate by age 25 and went on to become a prominent breast cancer researcher. At Berkeley, she met Harris’ father, Donald Harris, whom she married in 1963 and divorced in 1971. "After finishing school, she was supposed to return home to a traditional arranged marriage, but she met my father, Donald Harris, a student from Jamaica. They fell in love and got married, and that act of self-determination made my sister, Maya, and me," Harris said in her speech. Kamala's sister, Maya Harris, also spoke at the DNC and recalled how their mother moved to US from India to pursue a better life and encouraged her daughters to do follow their dreams. Also read: Oprah Winfrey takes veiled dig at JD Vance over 'childless cat lady' remark during surprise DNC speech She said, "Mommy's journey, and the opportunities she sought for Kamala and me represent a distinctly American story." Maya also mentioned that if their late mother was here, she would say how proud she was of her daughter. Then, "without missing a beat, she'd say, "That's enough. You've got work to do." (With inputs from agencies)

Who was Shyamala Gopalan? Kamala Harris' influential mother

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US Elections: Not just Kamala Harris’s mother; Shyamala Gopalan was a trailblazer

Who was Shyamala Gopalan? Kamala Harris' influential mother