[Assam] [assam] Tamilnadu engineer eyes New York City Council seat

[bhuban.baruah]

This story is from the Times of India (April 18, 2012)


CHENNAI: The Vadukkachimathil hamlet in the southern district of 
Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, better known for its halwa and caste 
rivalry, is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the New York City council 
elections. They hardly stand to gain, but a victory for son of the 
soil, 36-year-old 'Hill' Krishnan alias Thirumalai ., who is contesting 
for a seat in the 51-member council of New York City, would be 
something for them to boast about. If Krishnan wins, it would be the 
first time that a South Asian would be elected to the council.

"I strongly believe the Americans will elect anyone who has the right 
policies. Race is not a problem here and the best example is American 
President Barack Obama. I am in the election fray, representing his 
Democratic party," an enthusiastic Krishnan told The Times of India 
over the phone from New York.

A doctoral student of Boston University and an adjunct professor at New 
York University, Krishnan is in the race against two contenders for the 
Upper East Side seat in the council. About 12% of the five lakh 
population here are Indians and Krishnan is confident he has more than 
a winning chance. "This city has the most diverse population. The 
council comprises all the minorities, including Africans, Americans, 
Jewish and Spanish Americans. But an Indian has never been elected so 
far. I want to change that," he said.

Krishnan left for US in 2001 after graduating from the Guindy 
Engineering College in Chennai to pursue a masters in ergonomics and 
biomechanics at New York University. With little money to spare, he 
initially spent nights in the library on campus and used the college 
gym for showers. It was only when a friend of a friend offered a room 
in his apartment that he found accommodation. He managed to pay his way 
through by working part-time on campus. In the same period, he met his 
wife Debbie, who was also a student at the same university. "Within a 
year we got married," said Thirumalai, who became Hill, after he found 
the locals struggling to pronounce his name.

Krishnan had studied in his native village in Tirunelveli up to third 
standard. Then he moved to Coimbatore and later to Chennai, where he 
completed his mechanical engineering from Guindy Engineering College. 
"My mom is a huge inspiration for me. She has been giving me moral 
support. I was a poor student in high school. It was my mother who 
motivated me and because of that I secured centum in higher secondary 
and also got a state rank. She continues to motivate me," said Hill.

His proud mother, K Lakshmi, who resides in Chengalpet, said, "I am 
always proud of my children, particularly Thirumalai. He has several 
talents. He dances well, he is good at script-writing and had won many 
state-level competitions during his college days. I strongly believe he 
will win the elections."

Krishnan is now teaching in the global affairs department of New York 
University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies and has 
completed a PhD dissertation on international relations and science and 
technology policy. He took "America's addiction to aeroplanes, 
automatic weapons and automatons" as his thesis for his research. "When 
I started reading biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and 
Alexander Hamilton, I was inspired in public life. Mahatma Gandhi and 
Jawaharlal Nehru were also inspirations for me," said Hill.