As the granddaughter of India’s first female doctor, it seems only natural for Pramila Jayapal to follow in her footsteps and make history of her own. The Seattle-based Democrat is a congresswoman for the US House of Representatives’ 7th Congressional District, and now her sister, state Senator Mona Das, has announced her intention to run for Congress too.
On the 13th of January, 2021, Senator Das declared her candidacy for the state’s all-important 8th Congressional District. Both of these seats have allowed multiple generations of the Jayapal family to make their mark, as Das will be the third family member to represent this region in the House of Representatives.
Das’s candidacy will likely be met with support from her older sister, Pramila Jayapal. Pramila made history in 2016 when she became the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives in her own right. This achievement was matched by Mona in 2020 when she became the first South Asian-American woman to be elected to the Washington State Senate.
The sisters’ grandmother was an inspirational role model for the two of them, and for many women of South Asian origin. Their grandmother, Dr. Gouri Mahajan, was India’s first female doctor. She helped to break the barriers of prejudice and educated a generation of young women in India, including Pramila and Mona’s mother.
As the first Indian-American woman to gain a seat in the House of Representatives, Pramila has used her platform to make legislative changes that benefit women, communities of color, and immigrants. During her time in office, Pramila has pushed for human rights reform and assisted in passing several laws, such as raising the minimum wage in Washington and protecting Dreamers from being deported.
Mona will be hoping to build on her sister’s legacy, with both of them concentrating on the plight of immigrants and refugees across the US and the rights of those marginalized in American society. Pramila has already expressed her support for Mona, saying: “Mona has a lifetime of experience standing up for progressive values. She has a proven record of winning powerful, lasting victories for our communities.”
The sisters will stand shoulder to shoulder in the name of progress, embodying their grandmother’s spirit of breaking down the walls of prejudice and discrimination in South Asian culture. The world will watch with anticipation as the Jayapal sisters continue to make history.
As the granddaughter of India’s first female doctor, it seems only natural for Pramila Jayapal to follow in her footsteps and make history of her own. The Seattle-based Democrat is a congresswoman for the US House of Representatives’ 7th Congressional District, and now her sister, state Senator Mona Das, has announced her intention to run for Congress too.
On the 13th of January, 2021, Senator Das declared her candidacy for the state’s all-important 8th Congressional District. Both of these seats have allowed multiple generations of the Jayapal family to make their mark, as Das will be the third family member to represent this region in the House of Representatives.
Das’s candidacy will likely be met with support from her older sister, Pramila Jayapal. Pramila made history in 2016 when she became the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives in her own right. This achievement was matched by Mona in 2020 when she became the first South Asian-American woman to be elected to the Washington State Senate.
The sisters’ grandmother was an inspirational role model for the two of them, and for many women of South Asian origin. Their grandmother, Dr. Gouri Mahajan, was India’s first female doctor. She helped to break the barriers of prejudice and educated a generation of young women in India, including Pramila and Mona’s mother.
As the first Indian-American woman to gain a seat in the House of Representatives, Pramila has used her platform to make legislative changes that benefit women, communities of color, and immigrants. During her time in office, Pramila has pushed for human rights reform and assisted in passing several laws, such as raising the minimum wage in Washington and protecting Dreamers from being deported.
Mona will be hoping to build on her sister’s legacy, with both of them concentrating on the plight of immigrants and refugees across the US and the rights of those marginalized in American society. Pramila has already expressed her support for Mona, saying: “Mona has a lifetime of experience standing up for progressive values. She has a proven record of winning powerful, lasting victories for our communities.”
The sisters will stand shoulder to shoulder in the name of progress, embodying their grandmother’s spirit of breaking down the walls of prejudice and discrimination in South Asian culture. The world will watch with anticipation as the Jayapal sisters continue to make history.
