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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 17, 2025 | The Indian Eye 15

Q&A WITH ZOHRAN MAMDANI

‘The values and ideals given by my family make me a proud Indian-American’

n a conversation with Sunil ‘Seva’ (service) of- within me not just What message do you have for
Hali, the promoter of Radio ten without any rec- the importance of Indian communities—Gujaratis and
IZindagi and publisher of The ognition. representation but Punjabis in particular?
Indian EYE News Group, Zohran You’ve spoken also as a harbinger For Gujaratis, Punjabis, for In-
Mamdani spoke about his identity, about being raised in of values, ideals dians across the city and the world,
faith, and the importance and re- a household shaped and commitments there is only one message. I would
sponsibilities of leadership for New by both Islam and which I intend to not have been here, were it not the
York City to maintain its status as Hinduism. How do bring to the New family that raised me and the fam-
the city of global prominence. York City. ily that taught me the values, the
you hold both the reli-
EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW: gions in your identity? Your name— ideals that I hold.
Those are values and ide-
My mother’s Zohran—has become
What inspired your visit York side of the fami- symbolic in this con- als that make me proud to be an
City’s oldest Hindu temples? ly is Hindu, and I versation. What does Indian-American. Being here at
this temple is so special which has
These temples represent more grew up celebrating it mean?
than religion—they are pillars of Diwali, Holi, and Raksha Bandhan. My mother, filmmaker Mira safeguarded the freedom of reli-
gion for not just the Hindu New
community, service, and tradition. Though I identify as Muslim, these Nair, named me Zohran, which Yorkers but also for all New York-
Visiting them allowed me to re- Hindu traditions and practices have means “the first star in the sky.” It’s a ers. It is a part of the story that
connect with how much the Hin- shaped my worldview and helped symbol of guidance and hope, some- each one of us reflects larger jour-
du community contributes to the me understand what is the meaning thing that has always reminded me to ney in this country, for the dignity
spirit of New York City by way of
of Hinduism. This has inculcated lead with purpose. that we all deserve.

His effort to embrace his Hindu it’s a shock to them that that is even about muslims in Gujarat. He should leading America’s largest city. Mam-
roots is being read by some observers the case. And this is someone who we check before making such statements. dani’s campaign is more than a polit-
as a move to repair his strained rela- should view in the same manner that We have huge muslim population in ical bid—it’s a reflection of the Indi-
tionship with some parts of the Indian we do Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a Gujarat living life peacefully”. His al- an-American community’s growing
community because of some of his war criminal.” The statement is seen as leged comments on NYC lawmaker visibility and internal diversity. “I’m
statements in the past. deeply offensive by a large section of Jennifer Rajkumar and introduction of proud to have been the first Indi-
Before his mayoral bid, Mamdani Indian diaspora in New York. a caste bill in New York State Assem- an-American elected to the New York
drew backlash for a social media post Some members of the Indi- bly has not gone down well with a sec- State Assembly, and I’m proud to say
condemning the opening of the Ram an-American community are also up- tion of the community, which expects that in 30 days, we have the opportu-
Temple in Ayodhya. Some of his re- set with Mamdani for participating in him to come clean with his position on nity to elect myself as the first Indi-
marks have left sections of New York’s a protest against the construction of these important issues. an-American mayor in the history of
Hindu diaspora wary of his candidacy. Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. At the same Mamdani, however, has stood your city,” Mamdani said in his ad-
There is a considerable concern – and protest he allegedly used a derogatory firm, arguing that his criticism was dress at the BAPS temple.
anger – among the diaspora about word for Hindus. But a video of the directed not at Hinduism but at the Whether his temple visits mark
Mamdani’s statements about Indian event clearly shows that the abusive politicization of religion. “For Guja- genuine reconciliation or tactical posi-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At a language was used by another protest- ratis, Punjabis, for Indians across the tioning, they have already reframed the
public event when he was asked about er. Said Dr. Deepak Nandi,”He should city and the world, I would not be here narrative around his candidacy. In a city
Modi, he had said: “Narendra Modi atleast condemn the remark attributed were it not for the family that raised built on overlapping identities, Zohran
helped to orchestrate what was a mass to a demonstrator. Leader has to select me and the ideals they taught me,” he Mamdani’s words—“I’m proud of my
slaughter of Muslims in Gujarat to the Associates carefully. New York has said. “Those are values that make me Hindu heritage”—might just be the
the extent that we don’t even believe diaspora from 270 countries and lead- proud to be an Indian-American.” first – but a major – step toward re-
there are Gujarati Muslims anymore. ers should try to integrate them”. Dr For the first time, a candidate of connecting with the Indian Americans
And when I tell someone that I am, Nirmal Matto0 said,”It is an utter lie Indian descent stands on the cusp of who identify themselves as Hindus.

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