India-born Nithya Raman has defeated Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass to win the mayoral elections, in a closely contested race. 52.70 per cent of the ballots counted went to Raman, 47.30 per cent to Bass. The win has made Raman the first Indian-American and the first South Asian to be the leader of the city of Los Angeles.
The Democratic Socialists of America also supported Raman in his campaign.
Strong Roots and Connection to India
Nithya Raman hails from Thrissur, Kerala and grew up in part of Thiruvananthapuram.
At age six she immigrated to the US with her family. It was reported her father Venkitaraman was working with Keltron and her mother Sudha Kechery was working with Indian Overseas Bank.
Raman studied at the Harvard University for 3 years and then continued with various slum dwelling related organisations in Delhi in 2003.
Work Focused on Low-Income Communities
In Delhi, Raman collaborated with the people of slums set to become prime locations for the Commonwealth Games. She then moved on to South India to create Transparent Chennai in 2010.
It harnessed data and mapping to examine the civic infrastructure and barriers to civic participation for low-income neighborhoods.
It’s work encompassed mapping the public toilet stations and bus routes and exploring access to basic service delivery in slums and unconventional dwellings.
Raman’s win is a historic today for the Indian-American community, as well as a new segment her story from India to running one of the largest cities in America.