New Delhi: Kamala Harris on Sunday as India celebrated the US vice president-elect’s victory, with her uncle hailing her achievement as historic and an inspiration to women and girls. At Thulasendrapuram village in Tamil Nadu, Harris’s maternal grandfather PV Gopalan, celebrations broke out with people lighting firecrackers, praying at its main temple and waving posters bearing the vice president-elect’s face.

“Her mother would have been very happy. She would have asked Kamala to continue what she’s doing,” the 79-year-old academic in the national capital as a huge media contingent crowded outside his home. His niece’s lifetime of accomplishments — she was also California’s first Black attorney general and the first woman of South Asian heritage elected to the US Senate, would be an inspiration to other Indian-American immigrants, he added.

“Lots of Indo-American children who earlier were interested in the annual Spelling Bee contest are now going to be interested in US politics,” he quipped. “I think young children, especially young girls, are more motivated and enthused.