New York’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, marked his first day after a historic victory with a nod to his South Asian roots – sharing a meal of chai, momos and paneer tikka with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The 34-year-old Indian-origin mayor-elect shared glimpses of his “busy first day” in office, which he said was filled with back-to-back interviews, transition announcements and meetings.

“A busy first day as your Mayor-elect: early morning interviews, transition announcements and meetings. More to say on all of it tomorrow. But a highlight was lunch with my Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Laliguras Bistro in Jackson Heights,” he wrote in a post on X, accompanied by photographs from the lunch.

The pictures showed Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani enjoying tea with plates of momos, aloo-dam and paneer tikka served alongside bao – a blend of flavours that paid homage to Mamdani’s South Asian heritage. The lunch took place at Laliguras Bistro, a popular Indian and Nepalese restaurant located in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Ocasio-Cortez, who was one of the early Democratic voices to endorse Mamdani’s mayoral bid, joined him for the meal as he began his first official day of meetings and press engagements.

A historic win

Mamdani made history by becoming the first Muslim and first South Asian to be elected mayor of New York City – and, at 34, the youngest to lead the city in a century. His campaign centred on progressive values, championing affordable housing, wealth redistribution and equality in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

His victory speech reflected the depth of his cultural and political identity. Quoting extensively from Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous “Tryst with Destiny” address, Mamdani paid tribute to his Indian heritage before exiting the stage to the thumping beats of Dhoom, a Bollywood hit – instead of the usual New York anthems.

“I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older, I am Muslim, I am a democratic socialist and – most damning of all – I refuse to apologise for any of this,” Mamdani told supporters during his address at a Brooklyn music venue, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Embracing identity

Mamdani’s win is being hailed as a milestone not just for representation but also for how openly he embraces his multifaceted identity. Born in Uganda to academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, he embodies a cross-cultural background that spans continents and faiths.

Unlike other Indian-origin political figures who have downplayed their heritage, Mamdani has leaned into his roots – often speaking about his experiences with Islamophobia after the September 11 attacks and championing immigrant and working-class communities.

Known for his approachable campaign style, he often visited local eateries such as kebab counters in Jackson Heights and even canvassed taxi drivers at LaGuardia Airport in the days leading up to the election – many of whom are South Asian immigrants.

South Asians make up one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States, numbering over five million. While political figures such as former Vice President Kamala Harris have highlighted their Indian roots, others like Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal have distanced themselves from their heritage to align with conservative electorates.