The excitement and spectacle is a reminder of how villagers took to the streets with fireworks, posters and calendars when Ms Harris became the vice president. There was a communal feast where hundreds enjoyed traditional south Indian dishes like sambar and idli which, according to one of Ms Harris’ relatives, are among her favourite foods to eat. Ms Harris is the daughter of Shyamala Gopalan, a breast cancer researcher, who hailed from the southern state of Tamil Nadu, before moving to the US in 1958. Gopalan’s parents were from Thulasendrapuram.
