Prof. Chilukuri Santhamma, grand aunt of Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of JD Vance, Vice President-elect of the USA, spoke to mediapersons at Akkayyapalem in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. | Photo credit: V. Raju

There was a steady stream of media persons and visitors at Chilukuri Santhamma's house at Akkayyapalem in on Wednesday evening (November 6), after the results of the American presidential election were announced and JD Vance was elected as the Vice President of the USA the city

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of JD Vance, who was elected vice president as President-elect Donald Trump's running mate, has a Visakhapatnam connection. The city is home to her paternal great-aunt, Chilukuri Santhamma, 96, a professor of physics.

“I am happy that someone from our family has become the Second Lady of the USA. I saw the election results on TV. “Usha's grandfather Rama Subramanya Sastry and my husband are brothers,” a jubilant Ms. Santhamma told media persons who made a beeline to her home on Wednesday evening.

Ms. Santhamma, however, regretted that many Indians were leaving their homeland in search of greener pastures. According to her, opportunities should be created in India so that talent can be retained in the country.

Ms. Usha is the daughter of Chilukuri Radhakrishna, son of Rama Subramanya Sastry, the younger brother of Ms. Santhamma's husband. Mr. Radhakrishna completed his mechanical engineering degree from IIT Madras and then migrated to the USA

After retiring from Andhra University at the age of 60, Ms. Santhamma continues to teach physics at Centurion University, Vizianagaram.

“Radhakrishna had gone to the US long ago and settled there and Usha was born there. She should not forget her roots and her Indian origins,” Ms. Santhamma had said The Hindu in the past.