What’s In A Name?
Nalini Velayudhan
Watching Kamala Harris’s nieces Amara and Leela teach the audience at the 2024 Democratic National Convention to articulate Kamala’s name correctly was heartwarming. It took me back to the countless times I have seen my family and explained to others how to say our names right. I often joke that I have forgotten how to say my own name, Nalini, accurately with the proper Indian accent. Like Kamala, my name Nalini also means a Lotus flower. One of my favorite instructions of the beloved Zen monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, is “No Mud, No Lotus” and this teaching has often reminded me to keep rising past hurts and challenges beyond the correct pronunciation of my name. When “LOTUS for POTUS” became a mantra, I thought it fitting for the rhythmic ring and the deeper meaning in having a leader who can rise above and bloom into her full potential despite the murkiness of politics.
Having a leader who has a name like yours, looks like you and relates to you as a woman of color, an immigrant, a minority, is part of a biracial family, raising children while balancing work is reaffirming, invigorating and enlivening. Her candidacy has recharged my spirit and reignited my desire to help her get elected to as POTUS in 2024. Phone banking for the first time with Indian American Impact, writing postcards with “They See Blue,” “Vote Forward” and “Desi Impact,” making donations to the campaign, hosting letter writing gatherings, and texting/WhatsApping/talking to my circle of family and friends about getting the vote out for Kamala Harris has become my mission until November 5th, 2024. I do not want to wake up on November 6th wondering if there was more I could’ve done. No regrets, not this time. We are not going back, we are moving onwards and forward!
In 2019 while living in Nevada, my sons and I volunteered for Kamala Harris’s campaign. The values behind her slogan “For the People” were ones I could align with. After phone banking, canvassing and campaigning for her, my oldest son had the immense privilege in his first time voting in 2020 of electing Kamala Harris as the first female of Indian and Jamaican ancestry to the Vice Presidency of the United States. I was perhaps more ecstatic and overjoyed than he was. Since that time Kamala Harris has gained more confidence, courage, clout, and experience in the political arena. The experience of being in the arena has allowed her to be more steadfast, developed her vision, sharpened her intellect so that she may lead the nation FORWARD with dignity, compassion, wisdom and yes, JOY.
As biracial individuals, my sons like Kamala Harris have names that bind them to their maternal lineage. My husband who is white and myself of South Indian descent deliberately chose Indian names - Kirun and Krishna - to intertwine them to an ancient, rich, vibrant, deeply meaningful culture, and ancestry. Even if it sets them apart from the dominant culture it will remind them that they will need to continue to seek representation, make their voices heard, create space to belong and do the work needed to make the American dream a reality for everyone. We keep our faith and chant aloud “LOTUS for POTUS” until Kamala Harris, the JOYFUL WARRIOR rises to become the 47th President of the United States of America!
Nalini Velayudhan is a West Linn, OR resident.
