Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Shyamala Gopalan Harris |
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| Famous for | Being the mother of Kamala Harris, 49th Vice President of United States |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5' 1" (155 cm) |
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| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Educational Qualification(s)
| School | Delhi Tamil Education Association Senior Secondary Schools, Delhi |
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Personal Life
| Religion | Hinduism |
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| Caste | Brahmin |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status (at the time of death) | Divorced |
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| Affairs/Boyfriends | Donald J. Harris |
| Marriage Date | 05/07/1963 |
| Place of Marriage | Oakland, California |
Family
| Father | Painganadu Venkataraman Gopalan (Freedom Fighter, Retired Civil Servant) | ||||
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| Mother | Rajam Gopalan (Social Worker) | ||||
| Siblings |
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| Spouse | Donald J. Harris (m. 1963-div. 1971; Economist, Professor, Writer) | ||||
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Career
| Summary | Shyamala Gopalan led a distinguished career in biomedical science with a strong commitment to civil rights and education. She earned her credentials as a leading expert in nutrition and endocrinology, serving in notable positions across prestigious institutions. |
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| Highlights |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| Shyamala was trained in Carnatic music by her mother in her childhood and earned fame for her singing skills. | |
| She was the recipient of a gold medal in a national singing competition and often performed on the radio for remuneration. | |
| She migrated to the United States at 19 for her postgraduate studies, marking a significant turning point in her life. | |
| Her first year in America was funded by her parents' retirement savings. | |
| Without a phone line at home, communications with her parents involved the use of aerogrammes. | |
| Met her future husband Donald J. Harris during a talk at the Afro-American Association at the University of California, Berkeley in 1962, leading to an unconventional marriage. | |
| After a challenging financial situation, no family members could attend her wedding due to travel costs. | |
| Actively engaged in research from 1963 and made important contributions in breast cancer studies. | |
| Post her divorce in 1971, she raised her daughters independently, often taking them back to Chennai to visit family. | |
| She was recognized by the Breast Cancer Action organization for her contributions and posthumously advocated for cancer research funding through her donations. |
