Rabindranath Tagore, RK Narayan Became Part Of Usha Vance's Life During India Visits, Says Aunt

Usha Chilukuri Vance, the Indian-American wife of Ohio Senator JD Vance, has gained attention due to her Indian roots after her husband was picked as the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate.

JD Vance and Usha Chilukuri Vance.

Source : PTI

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of the Republican Party's vice-presidential candidate James David Vance, has suddenly shot into the limelight both in India and the US — courtesy of her Indian roots. While she comes from a family of highly accomplished individuals, Usha herself was academically inclined and would always be ready to dive into books. To shed more light on Usha Chilukuri Vance's childhood Telugu descent, ABP Desam spoke to her aunt Sharada, who spoke about Usha's active nature and keen interest in India's culture.

Following the Republican Party's announcement of Ohio Senator JD Vance as their Vice-Presidential candidate, media outlets have been extensively covering Usha Chilukuri Vance. Sharada, who is the elder sister of Usha’s father Radhakrishna, is a doctor in Chennai. Sharada said due to Usha's interest in India's culture, she gave her the works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and RK Narayan.

Usha Chilukuri Vance's Childhood

Sharada recalled Usha Vance as a "cheerful and focused" child. Sharada said that Usha’s maternal family lived in Chennai. "During her childhood visits to India, Usha visited our home three to four times. She developed a close bond with me," Sharada said. Sharada also recalled Usha’s avid love for reading, stating, “I used to give her works by RK Narayan and Rabindranath Tagore to read when she was young. She would also enjoy any book she could lay her hands on.” Although Usha wasn't fluent in Telugu, she understood the language well, Sharada said.

Usha Chilukuri & JD Vance's Traditional Hindu Wedding

Telugu media are abuzz with stories about JD Vance, the ‘Telugu son-in-law,’ and Usha Chilukuri Vance, the 'local girl'. While it is not uncommon for Telugu people to settle in America and ascend to high positions, the fact that a family with Telugu heritage is now competing for the vice-presidential position has captured widespread attention.

Usha Chilukuri met JD Vance while studying law at Yale University, and the couple married in 2014. Usha comes from a traditional Brahmin family that strictly follows the Hindu way of life. Due to these cultural and traditional practices at home, her wedding was conducted adhering to Hindu rituals. Her wedding photos reflect a deeply traditional ceremony.

Sharada, who attended the wedding, said that along with the Hindu wedding rituals, they also had a civil marriage registration as per the American system.

When asked if Usha was interested in politics or had political ambitions from the beginning, Sharada responded, “Not really. It [JD Vance's candidature] just happened. JD & Usha have a good understanding. But I did not notice any political ambitions in Usha, who was more focused on academics.” JD Vance had earlier stated that Usha was his "driving force".

Sharada added, “This focus led her to achieve a prestigious position as a law clerk at the Supreme Court.”

Usha Chilukri Vance's Family Of Academics

Sharada also shared that their family hailed from the Vadduru area near Tanuku in West Godavari district. The family has a strong academic background, with the first generation being Sanskrit scholars. Sharada and Radhakrishna’s father, Ramasastri, worked as a professor at IIT Madras. Radhakrishna pursued a Master of Science degree in the US after completing his engineering in Chennai. Usha’s mother, Lakshmi, also studied molecular biology in Chennai. After marrying Lakshmi, Radhakrishna moved to America, where they settled, and Usha was born there. She grew up in San Diego and later pursued law at Yale University, where she earned an MPhil in Modern History from Cambridge University.