Who is Zohran Mamdani? His Origin, Political Status and More Explained

The NYC Mayor Poll results are locked and the Indian – American Zohran Mamdani has been elected after his successful campaign representing the Democratic Party. The name is not just familiar because of the social media campaign that has spun his name across the world but his famous parents may also be the reason. 

Zohran Mamdani was born in Uganda and has Indian origin from his parents Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Nair. The eccentric and lively Mayor Candidate has been taking over the internet and even getting shoutouts from celebrities for his campaign has an equally interesting career. 

Meet Zohran Mamdani

Zohran is the son of Indian born Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani and Indian American Filmmaker Mira Nair. Apart from being born in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran has been flown at the young age to Capetown and finally moved to New York at the age of 7 by his parents to settle down. 

After getting his Bachelor’s degree in African Studies from Bowdoin University, Zohran has been actively involved in social work and even had a dabbling career in composing and producing Rap before running for the assembly elections in 2020. 

Zohran’s assembly profile introduces him as, “Zohran is proud to be the first South Asian man to serve in the NYS Assembly as well as the first Ugandan and only the third Muslim to ever be a member of the body. For too long, communities such as these have been left out of our state’s politics and priorities.”

Zohran Mamdani’s Victory and Political Standing

Zohran Mamdani was announced as the Democratic Nominee for the Mayor of New York City and said, “I will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, that is safe for you,” in his victory speech and added, “We can be free and we can be fed. We can demand what we deserve.”

Mamdani’s campaign has been surrounding supporting the working class from freezing the rent, capping and cutting down the cost of groceries in New York, one of the most costliest cities in the world. He is also keen on taxing 1% of the wealthiest of New Yorkers who are earning over $1 Million a year a tax of 2%. 

Mamdani has been endorsed by big names and other Democratic Socialists like Bernie Sanders, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez apart from his visual dominance and promotion campaign in social media. 

His social media campaigns have been a huge hit with him doing groundwork, interacting with the New Yorkers, explaining Ranked Choice Voting in YouTube and even participating in other endorsements critical and not, which he calls ‘politics of no translation’ in his sitdown with The Guardian. 

“It’s when you speak directly to the crises that people are facing, with no intermediaries in between. We need a politics that is direct, that speaks to people’s own lives. If I tell you that I’m going to freeze your rent, you know exactly what I mean”, Mamdani added.