Usha Vance Ties US Vice-Presidential Bid to Her Indian Heritage

Usha Chilukuri Vance, JD Vance's wife and a key figure in his vice-presidential campaign, has deep Indian roots. Her academic excellence and professional achievements further bolster her profile. Her grandaunt, Professor Santhamma, sheds light on Usha's Indian connection and hopes she uses her position to benefit the Indian community.

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of JD Vance, the Vice-Presidential candidate for the upcoming US presidential elections, has significant ties to India. Professor C Santhamma, her grandaunt, spoke about Usha's Indian roots, revealing that she is the daughter of her husband, Subrahmanya Shastri's brother.

Santhamma expressed joy at her family's son-in-law being selected as the US vice-presidential candidate. Usha's connection to India is through her father, Radhakrishna, son of Rama Shastri. Santhamma's husband, Subramanya Shastri, was a retired professor who passed away a few years ago.

Santhamma mentioned that Usha's parents settled in America years ago, and Usha was born and raised there, limiting their interaction. In an interview with ANI, Santhamma said, 'Usha is related to my husband, who had five brothers. Usha is the daughter of one of his sons. Although I don't know much about her, I hope she remembers her Indian roots.'

A distinguished litigator at a national law firm, Usha Vance holds a bachelor's degree in History from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge, highlighting her impressive academic credentials, as reported by the New York Times.

Santhamma urged Usha not to forget her Indian heritage and to use her influential position to aid the Indian community. 'She should leverage her office to rectify any legal disparities affecting Indians in America,' she added.

Santhamma also expressed the family's desire to invite Usha and her family to India. 'We wish to welcome her for a brief visit, allowing people here to meet her,' Santhamma said.

Raised in San Diego, California, with an emphasis on education, Usha has noteworthy academic accomplishments, including roles at the Yale Journal of Law & Technology and The Yale Law Journal, according to her biography at Munger, Tolles & Olson law firm. She played a pivotal role in her husband's success by helping him conceptualize ideas for his best-seller, 'Hillbilly Elegy,' which was later adapted into a film by Ron Howard in 2020.

As the US presidential election nears, former President Donald Trump announced JD Vance as his Vice-Presidential pick on Monday. Vance accepted the nomination during his keynote speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.

(With inputs from agencies.)