A video of Democratic mayoral candidate for New York, Zohran Mamdani, son of renowned filmmaker Mira Nair, has surfaced on social media where he is seen appealing for narrative ownership, especially among Pakistani Americans. “For too long, the story of Pakistanis has been told by others — a story that hasn’t embraced the full humanity of the Pakistani people. It’s time Pakistanis tell their own stories,” Mamdani can be seen as saying while addressing a gathering.

While the exact timeline of the video can not be confirmed, a poster on the podium where Mamdani is speaking reads “March 23 Pakistan Day”.

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Speaking during what he described as a “difficult time for many”, Mamdani acknowledged the suffering caused by global conflict. “There is war, and there are humanitarian impulses growing across the world,” he added. To underscore his message, Mamdani read Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s revolutionary poem Bol, declaring, “Bol, ke lab azaad hai tere… Bol, ke jaan ab tak teri hai.”

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Mamdani made history this week by becoming one of the first Indian-American frontrunners in the New York City mayoral race. The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist won 43.5% of the vote in the Democratic primaries, positioning himself as a serious contender in one of the world’s most influential cities.

If elected, Mamdani would become not only New York’s first Indian-American mayor, but also the city’s first Muslim to hold the office.

Zohran Mamdani is widely known for his unapologetically progressive platform. His campaign centered on affordability in a city often deemed unlivable for its working-class residents. He proposed freezing rent and introducing new social welfare measures, policies he plans to fund by taxing the wealthiest 1% of New Yorkers.

An outspoken critic of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Mamdani has repeatedly emphasized justice and equity in both foreign and domestic policies.

Born to Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran spent his early years in Kampala before migrating to New York at age seven. He became a US citizen in 2018 and previously served in the New York State Assembly where he became the first South Asian man and only the third Muslim member in the body’s history.

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Connecting with South Asian diaspora

Mamdani’s campaign broke the mold by actively embracing his South Asian identity. His viral campaign videos often featured him switching between English, Hindi, and Urdu — even referencing Bollywood films like Deewar. “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare,” as he calls himself, continues to capture hearts and headlines by being both authentic and bold.