As United States Vice President JD Vance lands in India along with his family, the village of Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district is abuzz with excitement. Why? Vadluru is the hometown of Usha Vance Chilukuri, wife of Vice President Vance, and villagers are expecting the couple to pay a visit to their origins during their Indian sojourn. The possibility of a visit by the Vance family has evoked a wave of emotion and pride in residents, who view Usha's success as a source of inspiration and an expression of their vibrant heritage.
Who Is Usha Vance? The Second Lady With Indian Roots
Usha Vance, 38, is a Yale- and Cambridge-educated lawyer and wife of JD Vance, the newly elected Vice President of the United States. Born to Indian immigrants who settled in the United States in the late 1970s, Usha grew up in an academically oriented and culturally rooted home.
Her grandfather and father were both linked to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), one of India's premier educational institutions. Her grandfather, Ramasastry Chilukuri, was a physics professor at IIT Madras during its early days. In his memory, the institute now gives a student award in his name. Usha's large family consists of scholars and professionals from all over India and the US, including her 96-year-old great-aunt, Shanthamma Chilukuri, a celebrated figure in India as the nation's oldest working professor. Shanthamma still travels 60 kilometers every day to teach physics in Visakhapatnam, a testament to the family's long-standing dedication to education.
Vadluru: A Village With A Legacy
The Chilukuris trace their roots back to Vadluru, before moving to Chennai when Usha's grandfather accepted the IIT job in 1959. But they have a deep connection to the village. Residents speak about the family's contribution to village development, such as land gifts that were used to construct the village Sai Baba temple.
“First of all, I would like to extend my greetings to JD Vance and Usha Bala Chilukuri for their victory in the US elections. We are proud to see Usha in such a respected position,” said PV Ramanaiah, a resident. “We appeal to them to visit this village and the nearby places. I’ve lived here for 10 years, and people still speak of their family’s past contributions.”
Emotional Appeal To JD And Usha Vance
As JD Vance and his family journey through India, villagers in Vadluru have issued a public appeal not just to the Vance family but also to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to arrange a visit. They feel that such an event would be historic and incredibly significant for the local people. “About eighty years ago, Usha’s family helped transform this village,” Vadluru Badrinath said to ANI. “Many were able to pursue education because of their efforts. A visit from the Vance family would be a proud moment for us all.”
Faith, Family, And Global Recognition
The Chilukuri family, with their Hindu roots, is famous for its religiosity. Most of the members have learned from the Vedas and the Upanishads. Usha herself has openly addressed her religious upbringing. During a Fox News interview, she stated, "I grew up in a religious household. My parents are Hindu… It made them such good people." JD Vance attributes Usha with reconnecting him to his Christian faith, pointing to the interfaith connection that has defined their family. The pair, who met at Yale Law School, were wedded in Kentucky in 2014. Usha was a law clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts and then worked at a leading US law firm before taking a step back after JD Vance was announced as the Republican vice presidential nominee.
From Vadluru To The World Stage
The Vance family’s legacy in Vadluru includes philanthropy and land donations. The priest of the local Sai Baba temple, Satya Gopal Krishna, recalled how the Chilukuri family’s generosity enabled the construction of the temple. “Usha Bala Chilukuri’s family donated land that made this temple possible. Their connection to Vadluru is still alive in our hearts,” he said to ANI. Another villager, Vetukuri Satyanarayana Raju, shared similar views, stating, “We warmly welcome them to India and hope they visit Vadluru. Their ancestors have made lasting contributions to this village.”
Usha is a member of a new generation of Indian-origin achievers who are making headlines around the world, with the likes of Kamala Harris, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Vivek Ramaswamy, a Yale classmate of JD and Usha.
As Usha takes center stage in the global political arena, her path from Vadluru to Yale and now Washington, D.C., is an inspiring tale of Indian success overseas. The people of Vadluru village are all waiting with bated breath for a moment that will complete their tale in a circle.