33-year-old Zohran Kwame Mamdani is being discussed today not just in the U.S. but in many parts of the world—especially in Africa and South Asia—because Zohran Mamdani is an Indian-origin American citizen, and he was born in Uganda. Zohran is the son of famous film director Mira Nair, who is originally from Punjab, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is from Gujarat and is a professor at Columbia University. Zohran has won the primary election for the Mayor of New York City, which is why he has now become a topic of global conversation.
Zohran ran a very powerful election campaign. His thoughts, his statements, and his confident way of presenting them made him stand out from all the other candidates. He took a completely different stand and expressed it openly. Where all the other candidates spoke of visiting Israel if they won, Zohran was the only one who refused to go to Israel. Instead, he said he would stay in New York and work for the betterment of the city’s people. On the Gaza issue too, Zohran took a different position from other politicians. He called the ongoing killings in Gaza a genocide. In fact, he even said that if he becomes Mayor, he would call for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu during his visit to New York. Zohran called Netanyahu a war criminal.
Zohran did not try to hide or downplay his Muslim identity at all, even though Islamophobia in the U.S. is at its peak. Muslims make up only 3% of New York’s population, while Zionist influence and control over the city is strong. But still, Zohran clearly called the Gaza killings a genocide and did not try to balance his words. In today’s world, where Israel’s lobby AIPAC controls most politicians, Zohran’s statements and positions are nothing less than political suicide.
Because of his Indian origin, a journalist asked him a question about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response, Zohran said he holds Modi responsible for the Gujarat riots and would not allow him to hold a rally in New York. Perhaps this is the reason why, while India takes pride in Indian-origin leaders like Rishi Sunak and Kamala Harris, there is no such celebration when it comes to Zohran. Even many Indian Americans don’t seem very pleased with him.
Zohran Mamdani openly opposed America’s pro-Israel policies and expressed his support for Palestine. He calls U.S. President Donald Trump a dictator and a king. Because of such bold positions, he now faces hate for being non-American in origin and for being a Muslim. People are saying things like, “If Mamdani has his way, NYC classrooms won’t be teaching the constitution in civic class , they will be teaching Sharia law.” Others are making comments about 9/11 or calling him a jihadi and terrorist. Some are even trolling him by showing the Statue of Liberty covered in a burqa. Despite facing hateful and Islamophobic attacks due to his Muslim identity, Zohran stands firm on his beliefs. He openly expresses his Muslim identity and talks about his community. He doesn’t change his position just because some people might get upset or not vote for him. He speaks clearly, directly, and with full confidence.
Indian Muslims should learn from Zohran Mamdani that we must speak up openly about our issues and demands, without worrying about who might get offended. We should express our stance clearly and raise our voice against the injustice we face. All secular parties in India also need to learn from Zohran that they should not compromise on their beliefs and values just because they fear losing majority votes. If you live among the people, have their issues, and have a clear plan to solve them, the people will definitely vote for you.
Even though America has many problems, the people there still have space for linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity. In America, a non-American-origin Muslim candidate can still win despite his firm and different positions. This is a sign of a strong and lasting democracy. But can such a thing even be imagined in India? Where Muslims are daily accused of being Rohingya or Bangladeshi, where they are called Pakistani as a way to insult them. In India, even thinking of a Muslim becoming Prime Minister is almost a sin. In fact, forget about Prime Minister—even a Muslim becoming Chief Minister of any state is not accepted here. Just saying such things makes the majority community angry and brings out their hidden Islamophobia. In India, most non-Muslims—especially Hindus who are the majority—generally do not vote for a Muslim candidate. For a Muslim to win an election, it’s necessary that the seat has a Muslim majority. But a Hindu can easily win from a Muslim-majority seat. This is a bitter truth of Indian democracy and a sign of how weak the system is.
Zohran Mamdani’s unique election campaign is also a great lesson for today’s politicians. Before jumping into the race, Mamdani met with citizens, learned what problems they were facing, found solutions, made those issues his agenda, and promised practical action. He talked about how living in New York City has become extremely expensive, and how he plans to make it affordable for everyone. He promised to put a cap on high and unfair rents if he becomes Mayor, and pledged to build thousands of new homes so every citizen in New York can have a roof over their head. Childcare in New York is very expensive, so Zohran proposed free childcare. He also promised fast and free bus services for everyone. He talked about opening public grocery stores in the city where people can buy essential items at low prices. Mamdani gave the slogan “A city for all, not just for some.” He openly challenged America’s liberal elite class who hoard all the wealth and still demand tax breaks. Zohran proposed extra tax on such rich people. The issues he raised were the actual hardships faced by the people. When he offered real solutions to those hardships, the people stood with him. He didn’t make big promises—only promised what a Mayor can actually do.
Zohran had strong competitors who had money, power, status, and media influence. So Mamdani made social media his weapon. His unique social media presence, editing, and strategy helped defeat his opponents. During his campaign, Zohran used Urdu, Hindi, and Bengali languages. He even used Bollywood film clips, styles, and dialogues. Throughout his campaign, media presence, and social media, Mamdani showed extraordinary confidence, quick thinking, and high ambition. Today’s politicians—especially young ones—should learn that to win elections, you don’t need to spread hate or create fights between people. You need to stay connected with the people. If you have a clear vision, know the public’s problems, and have a full plan and will to solve them, you can win elections.
In the end, it’s a humble suggestion: visit Zohran Mamdani’s Instagram handle and take a look at his campaign—his campaign is a powerful lesson for everyone.
Written by Imran Ahmed
References:
https://www.npr.org/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5449040/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayoral-candidate
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/why-zohran-mamdani-would-never-be-a-mayor-in-gujarat-3610243
