“It is not an easy feat to be where she has reached in the most powerful country in the world,” says Krishnamurthi, a retired bank manager. “We are really proud of her. Once Indians were ruled by foreigners, now Indians are leading powerful nations.” There is also a sense of pride, especially among women. They see Ms Harris as one of their own, a symbol of what is possible for women everywhere. “Everybody knows her, even the children. ‘My sister, my mother’ – that is how they address her,” said Arulmozhi Sudhakar, a village local body representative. “We are happy that she has not forgotten her roots and we express our happiness.”
