In the kaleidoscope of American politics, few figures are as fascinating and unexpected as Tulsi Gabbard. The former Democratic Congresswoman turned Republican icon, appointed by President-elect Donald Trump as the new Director of National Intelligence, is not just making headlines for her shift in party allegiance or her military service.
There’s another intriguing layer to her identity that has sparked curiosity and confusion: Gabbard, despite being the first Hindu to serve in Congress, is not of Indian descent.
Yes, you read that right.
Tulsi Gabbard, born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, is often mistaken for an Indian-American due to her Hindu faith and first name. But here’s the twist—while she practices Hinduism and carries the name “Tulsi” (a common name in Indian families), her roots aren’t Indian at all.
Gabbard’s mother, Carol Porter Gabbard, converted to Hinduism in the 1970s and raised her children as devotees of the Gaudiya Vaishnav school, which originates in Bengal. It was this spiritual practice—not any ancestral connection to India—that shaped Tulsi’s identity.
So why does this matter? In a country where identity is often tied to ethnic background, Gabbard’s case is a reminder that religion, culture, and heritage can be inherited in ways that defy conventional expectations.
The “Indian-American” misconception
The world may see Tulsi and assume she’s of Indian origin. After all, her first name is an homage to a sacred plant revered in Hinduism, and her role as the first Hindu member of Congress was widely celebrated in Indian-American communities. But Gabbard’s connection to Hinduism comes from her upbringing, not a familial legacy in India. It’s a story that challenges the typical narrative of what it means to be “Indian-American.”
Hailing from Hawaii, Tulsi had little in the way of Indian subcontinent exposure, but her faith and dedication to her religion of Hinduism were authentic. She would go on to explain how her mother’s conversion to the Hindu faith, along with their family’s practices on reincarnation, dramatically affected the family. It was the mother’s faith that induced them to turn in their Samoan roots, and this faith was preserved in their family.
Breaking stereotypes in American politics
Although Gabbard’s Hindu identity allowed her to stand out from the rest, it is worth mentioning that she wasn’t embraced by everyone in the political arena. Geographically, Gabbard held a foreign policy that irked some leftists, and sometimes she was challenged by members of the Hindu American communities because she did not fit the definition of ‘Indian’. However, the most diverse of all nations was intriguingly surprised by the revelation that, for Gabbard, political behaviour was not just about being an American politician of Indian descent but also about being an American politician of Hindu origin.
Gabbard’s story is a study in contrasts. She’s a progressive former Democrat who has now allied herself with the Republican Party, breaking ranks with the establishment for reasons that have raised eyebrows. Her military service, her commitment to Hinduism, and her candid criticism of both the Democratic and Republican establishments have made her a magnet for both admiration and controversy.
The faith that defines her
Tulsi’s Hindu identity is central to her narrative, yet it is not confined to the “Indian-American” label. The distinction is crucial because it highlights the multifaceted nature of religious and cultural identity in the U.S. Many Americans associate Hinduism with Indian heritage, but Gabbard’s story shows that Hinduism can be a path of personal discovery and commitment, even without a direct cultural link to the subcontinent.
Her embrace of the Gaudiya Vaishnav tradition—a branch of Hinduism rooted in devotion to Lord Krishna—reflects a deeply spiritual journey rather than a national or ethnic one. It’s this personal connection to faith that set her apart, not the geography of her ancestry. When she took her congressional oath on the Bhagavad Gita, it wasn’t just a religious symbol—it was a statement of her spiritual identity, forged in the U.S., by a family that embraced Hinduism long before it became widely recognized in American political circles.
The “Hindu-American” who challenges labels
Tulsi Gabbard’s rise to prominence has forced the world to rethink the labels we often assign to people based on religion or ethnicity. She represents a new kind of American identity—one that defies traditional boundaries. While her story doesn’t fit neatly into the “Indian-American” box, her story is just as powerful, showcasing the beautiful complexity of religious and cultural expression in the modern world.
So next time you hear Tulsi Gabbard’s name, remember this: She’s not just an Indian-American politician with a Hindu identity. She’s a Hindu-American who is not Indian-American—an identity that proves labels are often just a small part of who we truly are.