NEW DELHI: In a small south Indian village more than 12,900 kilometers from Washington, residents have put up giant blue-white posters adorned with the face of US Vice President Kamala Harris. In the local Tamil language, each one wished her luck for the presidential election in November.

Thulasendrapuram, a village surrounded by rice paddy fields in India’s Tamil Nadu state, is where Harris’s maternal grandfather, P.V. Gopalan, was born more than a century ago. 

Throughout the years, its residents have been closely observing her political ascent, seeing the 59-year-old as one of their own. When she was inaugurated as vice president in 2021, they celebrated with firecrackers, free chocolate, posters and calendars with her picture. 

As she became the US democratic presidential candidate, many are beaming with pride as they pin new hopes that a Harris presidency would shift US policy on Israel’s war on Gaza.

“She belongs to our village and her ancestor was born here. We are very proud of her,” village chief Arulmozhi Sudhakar told Arab News. 

“She is from India and from Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, there is a saying that ‘every part of the entire world is ours and every human is our relatives’ … Once she wins she will stop and end the war. This is what I believe.”

Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinian citizens in over 300 days, has influenced election discussions in the US, with many now considering supporting Harris more than the previous democratic nominee, President Joe Biden, over her perceived stronger tone on the suffering of Palestinians. 

While she has not strayed from Biden’s policy on Israel, she has given a glimmer of hope for the supporters of Palestine, both within the US and abroad. 

It is also a salient issue for many Arab Americans, numbering more than 3.5 million in the US, whose support for Harris appears to depend on whether her proposed policies will save Palestinian lives. 

When it comes to the tiny Indian village of Thulasendrapuram, which temple is offering special prayers to the local deity for Harris’ success, there is also faith that she would “try to bring peace to Gaza.”

“She comes from Indian ancestry, which believes in non-violence … I hope that her decision would reflect her background and where she comes from,” village resident M. Krishnamurthy told Arab News. 

“No doubt she will try for peace in Gaza and stop the world from going into crisis.” 

A. Kanan, a retired government servant from Thulasendrapuram, is also hopeful that a Harris presidency would bring about a meaningful change for the besieged enclave.

“I want Kamala Harris to stop the war. This is my wish,” Kanan told Arab News. 

“Lots of women and children are being killed in Gaza. War needs to be stopped and there should be no more war and Kamala Harris should intervene to stop the war.”