A New York City mayoral candidate is under fire after comments from his mother surfaced, in which she emphatically stated her son is “not an American at all.”
Zohran Mamdani, a socialist running for mayor of America’s largest city, finds himself defending his identity after remarks made by his mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, have drawn sharp criticism from political observers and strategists.
The comments in question emerged from a 2013 interview Nair gave to the Hindustan Times.
At the time, Mamdani was a 21-year-old student at Bowdoin College.
“He is a total desi,” Nair stated in the interview, using a term that refers to people from the Indian subcontinent.
She continued her description of her son’s cultural identity with pointed language.
“Completely. We are not firangs at all. He is very much us. He is not an Uhmericcan (American) at all. He was born in Uganda, raised between India and America. He is at home in many places. He thinks of himself as a Ugandan and as an Indian,” the filmmaker declared.
The term “firang” carries particular significance. In Hindi and Urdu languages, it historically described Westerners, though its connotations have become a subject of debate.
Mehek Cooke, an Indian-born attorney and GOP strategist, offered a stark interpretation of the terminology to Fox News Digital.
“It’s the word used back in India to mock outsiders, to say you don’t belong,” Cooke explained.
Cooke’s criticism extended beyond the vocabulary itself.
“Using it here about your own child raised in the United States carries the same tone as calling someone a derogatory word — or worse. It’s flippant, divisive, and dripping with contempt for the very country that gave your family a better life,” she stated.
The GOP strategist did not temper her assessment of the situation.
“When Mamdani’s mother says her son was ‘never a firang and only desi,’ it’s a rejection of America,” Cooke argued.
“It’s ungrateful, disrespectful, and frankly repulsive to live in this country since age seven, receive every freedom, education, and opportunity America offers, and still deny being American.”
Mamdani’s background reveals a complex international history.
Born in Uganda, he relocated to the United States during his childhood years.
He did not become a naturalized American citizen until 2018, when he was approximately 26 years old.
During his time at Bowdoin College, Mamdani engaged in campus activism focused on Middle Eastern politics.
He participated in protests against Israel and played a founding role in establishing the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
Nair’s 2013 interview provided additional details about the family’s household practices.
“We only speak Hindustani at home,” she revealed, underscoring the family’s commitment to maintaining their cultural heritage.
The filmmaker further described her son using the phrase “very chaalu fellow,” an expression commonly employed in South Asian contexts to characterize someone as clever or possessing street smarts.
Nair has achieved international recognition for her filmmaking work, including the critically acclaimed movie Monsoon Wedding, which brought her prominence in global cinema circles.
The resurfaced comments arrive at a critical juncture for Mamdani, now 33 years old, as he pursues one of the most powerful political positions in the United States.
His campaign seeks to lead a city of more than eight million residents with vast economic and cultural influence.
