South Asian Heritage Shines at Eric Mamdani’s New York Mayoral Inauguration

South Asia, Dec 02 : Zohran Mamdani brought visible touches of his South Asian heritage to his inauguration as Mayor of New York City on New Year’s Day, highlighting the city’s multicultural fabric.

During his inaugural address at City Hall, Mamdani paid tribute to his parents, Mira Nair, the renowned filmmaker, and Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia University professor of Ugandan-Indian ancestry. “Thank you to my parents, Mama and Baba, for raising me, for teaching me how to be in this world, and for having brought me to this city,” he said. He also acknowledged relatives in Delhi, adding, “Thank you to my family   from Kampala to Delhi.”

Reflecting his family’s diverse religious background, Mamdani took his oath of office using two Korans that belonged to his grandparents. The ceremony included a Hindu, a Sikh, Christian, Jewish, and Islamic leaders, underscoring the city’s religious plurality.

Mamdani also wove cultural nods into his speech, referencing workers who “feed us biryani” and quoting the phrase “Logon ke dil badal gaye hein,” which he translated as “softness in people’s hearts.” Musician and social media influencer Babbu Singh, known as Babbulicious, performed a mix of Punjabi and English songs, energizing the ceremony with a celebratory South Asian flair.

Born in Uganda, Mamdani spent his early childhood in Africa before moving to New York at age seven. His middle name, Kwame, honors Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah, reflecting his African roots. Mamdani is married to Syrian-American artist Rama Sawaf Duwaji, further highlighting the multicultural nature of his personal life.

Mamdani’s inauguration marked several historic firsts: he is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, the first South Asian mayor, and the first mayor born in Africa. Through his ceremony, he embraced his South Asian heritage while celebrating the city’s diverse communities, setting a tone of inclusivity for his tenure.