Bhubaneswar: The newly elected Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has a connection with Odisha. Mamdani is the grandson of Amritlal Nair, a visionary administrator who once served as the District Collector of Sundargarh in the late 1950s. Mamdani is the son of Rourkela-born award-winning filmmaker Mira Nair, Amritlal's daughter.
Amritlal Nair, remembered in Sundargarh as a progressive and far-sighted officer, had made significant contributions to the district’s educational development. During his tenure as Collector in 1958, he contributed towards the establishment of a college at Ganachanda, ensuring higher education access for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The institution continues to serve as a milestone in promoting education among tribal communities.
Amritlal's daughter, Mira Nair, who was born in Rourkela during her father’s tenure, went on to become an internationally acclaimed filmmaker. Best known for her award-winning film 'Salaam Bombay!', Mira Nair was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for her contribution to cinema.
Her son, Zohran Mamdani, born in Kampala, Uganda, on October 18, 1991, has now carved a new chapter in the family’s legacy by emerging as one of the most prominent progressive leaders in American politics.