Indian-origin democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani became the new Mayor of New York City, marking a historic milestone for the city. During his victory speech, he drew inspiration from former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” address, linking his win to a new era of hope.
“Standing before you, I think of Nehru’s words. A moment comes rarely in history when we step from the old to the new. Tonight, we have done just that,” Mamdani said, echoing Nehru’s vision of transformation.
He promised bold and fearless leadership. “New Yorkers now expect a vision of what we will achieve, not excuses for what we fear to attempt,” he said. Mamdani also vowed to confront the city’s cost-of-living crisis with an ambitious and people-first agenda.
Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani is the son of scholar Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair. His childhood took him from Uganda to South Africa and later to New York. He studied at the Bronx High School of Science and graduated from Bowdoin College in 2014 with a degree in Africana Studies.
