Zohran Mamdani is 33‑year‑old Indian‑Ugandan‑American democratic socialist, Indian‑heritage, Shia Muslim, rapper‑turned‑legislator, son of filmmaker Mira Nair, and New York City mayor.
Early Life & Background of Zohran Mamdani
Birth & Family: Born October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda. His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is an Indian‑Ugandan professor at Columbia; his mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed Indian‑American filmmaker
Immigration & Education: Moved to Cape Town at age 5, then New York City at 7. Attended Bronx High School of Science and earned a BA in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in 2014, where he co‑founded the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter
Naturalization: Became a U.S. citizen in 2018
Zohran Mamdani’s connection to India
Zohran Mamdani’s connection to India is both deep and multifaceted, rooted in heritage, culture, and family. Here are the key highlights of his Indian connection:
- Zohran is the son of Mira Nair, a globally renowned Indian-American filmmaker best known for Salaam Bombay, Monsoon Wedding, and The Namesake.
- Mira Nair was born in Rourkela, Odisha, and educated at Delhi University before moving to the U.S.
- Zohran has described his mother’s Indian identity and storytelling tradition as foundational to his upbringing.
- Mahmood Mamdani (father): Indian-Ugandan scholar of Gujarati Muslim descent. A professor at Columbia University known for his work in post-colonial studies; he and Mira Nair met in Kampala in 1989 and married in 1991.
- They moved from Uganda to Cape Town, South Africa, in 1996, and then to New York City in 1998 when Zohran was seven.
Zohran Mamdani’s Wife
Zohran Mamdani married Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American multimedia artist based in Brooklyn. They held an Islamic Nikkah there on Dec 22, 2024, and a civil ceremony in New York shortly after. Rama is a talented illustrator and animator with work featured in The New Yorker, Washington Post, BBC, Tate Modern, and others. Zohran and Rama live together in Astoria, Queens.