Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh rejoiced as Donald Trump became the 47th President of the United States on Wednesday thanks to Telugu heritage Usha VanceWife of Vice President-elect JD Vancea major supporter of Trump. The parents of Usha Chilukuri (Usha Vance), the future Second Lady, come from Andhra Pradesh. Usha, who met Vance while studying law at Yale University, has been married to him since 2014.
In conversation with TOI, Usha’s grandmother Chilukuri Santhamma (96), an honorary professor at Centurion University in Vizianagaram despite her advanced age, expressed her pride and joy at the news. “The day JD Vance was nominated as the vice presidential candidate, I predicted his victory. Women like (former Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi and (India's first female cabinet minister) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit brought honor to India. Now it's Usha's turn.” I hear that she has been even more supportive and supportive of JD Vance through his personal, professional and political milestones. She is well versed in the legal profession and must have inherited the sharp mind and acumen that is in our family,” said Santhamma.
She said before she went to the university Wednesday morning, she was told that Republicans were leading in the vote count. “Later that day someone informed me of his victory. It's a proud moment for our family. Because of my deep commitment to the well-being of the country, I hope they contribute to educational and employment opportunities in India,” added Santhamma, who travels 60 kilometers to Vizianagaram to pursue her passion for teaching and social service.
IT Minister Nara Lokesh described Vance's election as a “moment of great significance” for the people of Andhra Pradesh. “Usha Vance, the second lady-elect, has her roots in Andhra Pradesh. We are proud to see people of AP heritage making their mark in diverse fields around the world,” he said in a social media post.
In his victory speech, President-elect Donald Trump praised Vance and his “remarkable and beautiful wife Usha,” highlighting their shared journey and achievements.
Usha Chilukuri comes from a long line of scholars whose roots go back to Saipuram village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. Her family has a rich educational history dating back to the 18th century when Chilukuri Buchipapayya Sastri, a renowned scholar, lived in the village. Some of her relatives, who also currently live in Saipuram and Vadluru village in West Godavari, offered special prayers at local temples and prayed for Republican victory.
Usha's great-grandfather Veeravadhanlu had five sons – Rama Sastri, Suryanarayana Sastri, Subrahmanya Sastri, Venkateswarlu and Gopala Krishnamurthy – all of whom were highly educated and successful in their respective fields. Among them, Rama Sastri moved to Madras (now Chennai), where he became a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology. He married Balatripura Sundari and together they had three sons and a daughter, Sharada. While her three sons later moved to the US, her daughter Sharada remains in Chennai.
Rama Sastri's son Radhakrishna followed in his father's academic footsteps and pursued a career in aeronautical engineering. After completing his studies, Radhakrishna moved to the USA, where he now works at the University of San Diego. He married Lakshmi, who hails from Pamarru village in Krishna district. Usha is her daughter.