Vadluru Villagers Eagerly Await Usha Vance's Visit
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Synopsis
Residents of Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district are hoping for a visit from Usha Chilukuri Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, who traces her roots to the village. Usha's family has deep ties to the area, and villagers have appealed for an official invitation.
Key Takeaways
- Usha Vance is the Second Lady of the United States.
- She has ancestral ties to Vadluru, Andhra Pradesh.
- Villagers are hopeful for her visit during her official trip to India.
- Usha is the first Indian-American and Hindu to hold the Second Lady position.
- Her family emigrated to the U.S. in 1980.
Amaravati, April 21 (NationPress) Residents of Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district are eagerly anticipating a visit from Usha Chilukuri Vance, the Second Lady of the United States, who has ancestral ties to the village.
Usha Vance arrived in New Delhi on Monday with her husband, U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance, and their three children -- Ewan (7), Vivek (4), and Mirabel (2) -- for their inaugural official trip to India.
The itinerary for their four-day visit includes stops in Jaipur and Agra, yet a trip to Vadluru is not currently part of the plan.
Nevertheless, the villagers of Vadluru remain optimistic that she may find a moment to briefly visit her ancestral home. They have reached out to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, urging him to extend an official invitation to the U.S. Second Lady.
At 38, Usha Vance is the first Indian-American and Hindu to hold the position of Second Lady of the United States. Her family originates from Vadluru, a village situated near Tanuku, approximately 35 km from the district headquarters, Bhimavaram. The village celebrated her ascension to the role with immense pride.
Following J.D. Vance’s election as Vice-President, Chief Minister Naidu described it as a historic occasion, highlighting that Usha Vance is the first woman of Telugu heritage to assume the title of Second Lady. He expressed his eagerness to welcome the couple to Andhra Pradesh.
IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh also celebrated the Vance victory as a proud achievement for the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially those from West Godavari. He remarked, “We take pride in the global impact made by people of AP origin.”
Usha is the daughter of Telugu immigrants -- Radhakrishna “Krish” Chilukuri, an aerospace engineer, and Lakshmi Chilukuri, a provost at the University of California, San Diego. The couple moved to the United States in 1980, and Usha was born and raised in San Diego.
A devoted book enthusiast, Usha earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. She later returned to Yale for law school, where she met J.D. Vance. The two wed in 2014, celebrating with a traditional wedding and a separate Hindu ceremony.
Usha has been instrumental in her husband’s political career, actively supporting his Senate campaigns in 2016 and 2022, and playing a significant role in his successful vice-presidential campaign.
