In that household, my parents never discussed movies, outings or gossip over dinner. Their conversations revolved around questions like What is going wrong in the world? What injustices need solutions? Which stories remain untold? Growing up listening to such discussions, their son rose to global prominence. He made history by becoming the first socialist elected as the Mayor of New York City in the United States. His name is Zohran Mamdani. 
Zohran was born in 1991 in Kampala, Uganda. His parents, Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, are of Indian origin. Mira Nair, a celebrated Bollywood filmmaker, is known for award-winning movies like Salaam Bombay and Monsoon Wedding. When Zohran was five, the family moved to South Africa and later settled in New York City.
Growing up on the streets of New York, Zohran often faced discrimination. He once shared an experience:
A friend once told me, ‘You’re not traditionalists.’ I replied, ‘We are intellectuals. Our home is filled with prayer and poetry. We listen to Urdu ghazals and African folktales.’ Such experiences shaped him deeply. Zohran proudly says, ‘It was my parents who made me who I am today’. In an interview, he recalled how his mother’s films about migration, child labor, identity and culture influenced his worldview and strengthened his social conscience.
● My parents shaped me.
Speaking about his mother once, he said ‘Any good filmmaker can make movies like Harry Potter. But the kind of films my mother makes can only be made by those who truly care about people and their struggles. I’m proud that my parents stand with marginalized communities. Their stories aren’t glamorous they highlight creativity, values, and unseen realities of the world. Understanding their power is the same as understanding public policy’. Raised in such an environment, Zohran developed a strong sense of activism early in life. Studying Africana Studies at Bowdoin College, he became increasingly drawn toward politics not for power, but to fight injustice and advocate for fairness.
In a 2013 interview, Mira Nair said Zohran doesn’t identify as American. He prefers to see himself as Ugandan and Indian. His roots and origins have connected him more deeply to the world, shaping his resilience and conviction. Zohran himself said My mother taught me how to see the world. My father often discussed postcolonial theory at home, which helped me understand the deep-rooted nature of social discrimination. His artist mother taught him to see society through creativity, while his intellectual father nurtured his critical thinking. The result was a new kind of leader a man of purpose and conviction. Those who knew him never saw him as a politician chasing power, but as someone living for change. ‘His campaigns felt less like political contests and more like homework assignments responsibilities given by his home’, his friends recalled. This is not merely the story of a mayor it’s the story of a mother who believed in art, a father who believed in thought and a son who believed in purpose.
● Another Trailblazer: Ghazala Hashmi.
Born and raised in Hyderabad, Ghazala Hashmi recently made history by being elected as the Governor of Virginia. Born in 1964, she spent her early childhood about four years at her grandmother’s home in Hyderabad before her family migrated to Georgia, USA. At that time, hers was one of only two Muslim families to settle there. Hashmi once said ‘Being a Muslim meant I had to face tough questions from a very young age. It became part of my life’. A highly educated woman, she entered active politics in 2019, advocating for accessible education, healthcare, gun reform, climate action, housing and the protection of democracy. Reflecting on her journey, she said ‘From an early age, I learned to fight difficult questions. They were unfair, but they helped me understand my identity and strengthen my resolve. Breaking such mindsets has become my life’s mission now. Muslims have been a part of American society and culture for centuries, yet Trump builds walls between us, saying, ‘You don’t belong here.’ My election is a strong answer to his divisive rhetoric’.
Through her latest victory, Hashmi has reached another milestone not just for herself, but for every voice that once went unheard.