His mother, renowned filmmaker Mira Nair, expressed immense pride and emotion at her son’s success. On Instagram, she shared a story originally posted by filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, captioned “Zohra, the beauty,” accompanied by Jay-Z’s iconic track “Empire State of Mind,” symbolizing the spirit and energy of New York City.
Speaking to Vogue India and filmmaker Bijoy Shetty, Nair said, “I feel Zohra is leading us toward a new dawn and a new day. He embraces his multifaceted world unapologetically and celebrates it with joy.” She added that her son sees the world not through the lens of power, but through equality, justice, and respect for working people.
After taking oath on January 1, Mamdani will represent a new generation of leadership built on activism, empathy, and global identity. His campaign focused on fairness, inclusivity, and bold progressive reform—values that deeply resonated with New York’s working-class communities.
Charismatic and outspoken, Mamdani’s victory is seen as a turning point for America’s progressive movement and as an energizing moment for the Democratic Party.
Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani grew up at the intersection of continents and cultures. His parents—Mira Nair, an acclaimed film director, and Mahmood Mamdani, a distinguished scholar—named him “Kwame” after African independence leader Kwame Nkrumah.
Both parents are of Indian descent: his father, a Gujarati Muslim, was born in Mumbai and raised in Uganda, while his mother hails from a Punjabi Hindu family, born in Rourkela and raised in Bhubaneswar. The family moved to New York when Zohra was seven, a city that would later become both his home and political arena.
Mamdani attended Bronx High School of Science and graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine in 2014 with a degree in African Studies. While at college, he co-founded the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, marking the beginning of his political activism.
Before entering politics, Mamdani worked as a housing counselor in Queens, helping immigrant families facing foreclosure and eviction. He later worked as a campaign manager for Khader El-Yateem and Ross Barkan, refining his grassroots organizing skills.
In 2020, Mamdani formally entered electoral politics, defeating five-term incumbent Aravella Simotas to win a seat in the New York State Assembly. He was re-elected unopposed in 2022 and 2024, reflecting his growing popularity and credibility.
In October 2024, Mamdani announced his mayoral candidacy—an underdog move that stunned political observers. His eventual triumph over former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has set the stage for a new era in New York politics, defined by diversity, vision, and fearless progressivism.
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