Tulsi Gabbard

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A brief biography

As of 2024

Nov 15, 2024: The Times of India

Early Life


Tulsi Gabbard was born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, American Samoa, to Mike Gabbard and Carol Porter Gabbard. Her father, of Samoan and European descent, is a practising Catholic who has also embraced certain Hindu practices, while her mother, born to German and European parents, converted to Hinduism before Tulsi’s birth. Tulsi is the fourth of five children in her family, with four brothers.
Her family moved to Hawaii when she was two years old. Tulsi spent much of her childhood there. 


Embrace Of Hinduism


Tulsi has publicly shared that her devotion to Hinduism is rooted in her study of the Bhagavad Gita. She began identifying formally with the Hindu religion as a young adult and has remained an active practitioner.


She practises Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a tradition within Hinduism that is dedicated to the worship of Lord Krishna. This branch of Hinduism originated in the 16th century in India, founded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Gaudiya Vaishnavism emphasises bhakti (devotion) to Krishna and is rooted in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. 


Political Career


Her political journey began in her early twenties when she was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 2002, at age 21, making her the youngest woman ever elected to a state legislature in the US. When her Hawaii National Guard unit was deployed to Iraq in 2004, she stepped down from her role to serve in the Middle East, completing two tours and eventually rising to the rank of major.


After returning, she continued her political career, winning a seat on the Honolulu City Council in 2010. In 2012, she won a seat in the US House of Representatives, representing Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District. She was the first Hindu and first Samoan-American-elected to Congress.
In 2016, she resigned as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders, citing a need for unbiased support of progressive voices within the party.
In 2019, she launched her bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. 


Although her campaign did not secure the nomination, she left a lasting impact, particularly on the discourse surrounding American foreign policy.


She distanced herself from the Democratic Party in 2022, becoming an Independent and frequently endorsing Republican candidates. She officially announced her decision to join the Republican Party on Oct 22 this year. She made the announcement during a rally for Donald Trump in Greensboro, North Carolina. 


Personal Life


Tulsi married Eduardo Tamayo, a childhood friend, in 2002, though they divorced in 2006, citing the strains of military service. In 2015, she married Abraham Williams, a cinematographer. 


Destination India


In December 2014, Gabbard made her first trip to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Subsequently, she has visited several more times. She has also met religious leaders, including the Dalai Lama, and sought blessings for her political career.