Meet Kamala Harris' Mom, Shyamala Gopalan

Shyamala Gopalan was a pioneering Tamil Indian-American cancer researcher and civil rights activist, who significantly influenced her daughter, Kamala Harris, the US. Democratic presidential candidate.

Born in Madras (now Chennai), she left India at 19 to pursue her dream of becoming a scientist in California, eventually earning a doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology from the University of California, Berkeley

Gopalan was renowned for her research on breast cancer and worked at several prestigious universities, including the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin, and McGill University in Montreal

She raised her two daughters, Kamala and Maya, primarily on her own after divorcing her husband, Donald J Harris, whom she met during a civil rights protest in the 1960s.

Kamala Harris frequently credits her mother for her strong values and activism, highlighting Shyamala's courage and determination to fight for women's health and racial equality

The family lived in Canada for a period, where Kamala spent her formative years from age 12 until she graduated high school

Even after her death in 2009 due to cancer, Shyamala's legacy continues through her daughters, who remain committed to social justice and equality

Shyamala's impact is reflected in Kamala's speeches and public appearances, where she often honors her mother's trailblazing spirit and dedication to making a difference