Zohran Mamdani’s mother, Mira Nair, celebrated her son’s historic victory in the New York mayoral election on Tuesday. The 34-year-old Democrat of Indian origin defeated independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a closely watched race for mayor of New York.
Mamdani will be the first Muslim, the first Indian-origin, the first African-born and the youngest in more than a century when he becomes mayor of New York on January 1. “I am young and I am a Muslim. I refuse to apologize for being a Muslim,” Mamdani said in his victory speech.
There comes, but rarely in history, the moment when we step from the old into the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds expression. Tonight we have stepped from the old into the new,” he said, quoting India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Mira Nair’s first reaction
Mira Nair took to the social media platform Instagram to repost filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s post congratulating Zohran Mamdani on becoming the mayor of New York.
“Zohran, you beauty,” Zoya Akhatar shared on her emoji-filled Instagram story.
Mira Nair, Zohran’s mother who is an Oscar-winning filmmaker herself, reposted Zoya’s post.
What am I Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani is the son of Renked Filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University Professor Mahmood Mamdani.
Born and raised in Kampala, Uganda, he moved to New York with his family when he was 7. Mamdani only recently became a naturalized US citizen in 2018.
Mamdani attended Bronx High School of Science and earned a BA in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College.
In high school, he co-founded his school’s first-ever cricket team, which went on to participate in the inaugural Public School Athletic League cricket season, his campaign profile said.
According to his official profile, he worked as a housing prevention consultant, helping low-income homeowners of color throughout Queens fight evictions and stay in their homes.
His work led him to run for office and in 2020 he was first elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 36th Assembly and its districts of Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway and Astoria Heights.
Mamdani campaigned in the mayoral polls to lower the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers, his campaign said.
The young politician has gained support among youth and working-class New Yorkers who are reeling under the weight of high costs and job insecurity amid the country’s tough economic and political climate.
He promised to “cut costs and make life easier” for New Yorkers because the city was becoming “too expensive.”
(With input from agencies)
