The 2020 American elections were indeed historic in multiple ways, resulting in a mammoth victory for the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris team. In fact, Kamala, whose mother hailed from Tamil Nadu, has broken the glass ceiling; she is the first woman and a person of colour to attain the second highest office in the United States. Her phenomenal rise has enthused South Asians in general, and Indians in particular as she has crossed numerous hurdles to be where she is today. Kamala’s uncle, Gopal Balachandran, who was a colleague in The Hindu, many years ago, is getting ready to represent her extended family in Washington, when Joe Biden’s presidency is inaugurated in January next year. In an interview to a newspaper, he recalled how his talented niece had been raised by his sister, Shyamala, in accordance with the family traditions and how proud she would have been, had she been alive. Shyamala had succumbed to cancer in 2009. The elevation has ensured that it would be for the first time in American history that two women would preside over the two legislative wings. While Kamala would be looking over the Senate, Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It is more than a coincidence that these two ladies, who have numerous accomplishments under their belt, belong to North California; the San Francisco area to be precise.
Most Americans had believed that it would be Hillary Clinton, who would break into what has so far been the men’s domain in the political arena. She was considered the most suitable choice for the Oval office but as things turned out to be, her journey ended in 2016, after she lost to incumbent President Donald Trump. There was wide speculation that she would make a comeback and in case she was not inclined, it would be Michelle Obama who could be a Democrat candidate in a future President’s election.
Kamala has proved most pundits wrong as she emerged from the shadows, and assisted Biden in winning this game-changing confrontation. It has been a matter of immense curiosity that the oldest democracy in the world has waited till 2020 to elect a woman to the second highest office of the land. More than 60 years ago, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) had voted for Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who become the first woman head of a government. This was followed by Indira Gandhi in India, Golda Meir in Israel, Margaret Thatcher in Britain, Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan, Chandrika Kumartunga in Sri Lanka, and Sheikh Hasina and Khalida Zia in Bangladesh. Today there are more than half a dozen countries that have a woman at the helm of affairs, including the dynamic Angela Merkel in Germany.
What it means for the US is that there would be, for the first time, a second gentleman instead of the second lady. This position would go to Douglas Emhoff, a lawyer and husband of the Vice President-elect. The acrimonious election has ended even though Trump is yet to concede defeat. With Biden and Harris, a new chapter in the American history has begun. It is to be seen how they steer the India-US relationship to new heights.