Shyamala Gopalan Age, Wiki and Bio

Shyamala Gopalan

Quick Info

ProfessionBiomedical Scientist, Associate Professor
NationalityAmerican
Date of Birth07/12/1938
Age70 years (died on 11, Feb, 2009)
BirthplaceMadras, Madras Province, British India
Date of Death11/02/2009

Bio/Wiki

Full NameShyamala Gopalan Harris
Other Names
  • Gopalan Shyamala
  • Shyamala Harris
Famous forBeing the mother of Kamala Harris, 49th Vice President of United States

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 1" (155 cm)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorDark Brown

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolDelhi Tamil Education Association Senior Secondary Schools, Delhi
College/University
  • Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, India (1955-1958)
  • University of California, Berkeley (1958-1960)
  • University of California, Berkeley (1960-1963)
Qualifications
  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Home Science from Lady Irwin College
  • Master of Science (M.S.) in nutrition and endocrinology from the University of California, Berkeley
  • PhD. in nutrition and endocrinology from the University of California, Berkeley

Personal Life

ReligionHinduism
CasteBrahmin
Marital StatusDivorced
Zodiac signSagittarius

Relationships & More

Marital Status (at the time of death)Divorced
Affairs/BoyfriendsDonald J. Harris
Marriage Date05/07/1963
Place of MarriageOakland, California

Family

FatherPainganadu Venkataraman Gopalan (Freedom Fighter, Retired Civil Servant)
MotherRajam Gopalan (Social Worker)
Siblings
BrotherBalachandran
Sisters
  • Sarala (Obstetrician)
  • Mahalakshmi (Information Scientist)
SpouseDonald J. Harris (m. 1963-div. 1971; Economist, Professor, Writer)
Children
  • Kamala Harris
  • Maya Harris
Other Relatives
Granddaughters
  • Meenakshi Ashley Harris (Lawyer, Author, Activist, Theater Producer)
  • Sharada Balachandran Orihuela (Author)

Career

SummaryShyamala Gopalan led a distinguished career in biomedical science with a strong commitment to civil rights and education. She earned her credentials as a leading expert in nutrition and endocrinology, serving in notable positions across prestigious institutions.
Highlights
  • Worked as a postdoctoral research physiologist at the University of California, Berkeley (1963-1966)
  • Served as a visiting scientist at the University of Illinois (1965-1967)
  • Actively participated in civil rights activism alongside her husband
  • Held a position as a special research fellow at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research (1968-1969)
  • Worked as an Assistant Research Biochemist at the University of California, Berkeley (1969-1974)
  • Became an Associate Professor at McGill University, Montreal in 1983

Some Lesser Known Facts

Shyamala was trained in Carnatic music by her mother in her childhood and earned fame for her singing skills.
She was the recipient of a gold medal in a national singing competition and often performed on the radio for remuneration.
She migrated to the United States at 19 for her postgraduate studies, marking a significant turning point in her life.
Her first year in America was funded by her parents' retirement savings.
Without a phone line at home, communications with her parents involved the use of aerogrammes.
Met her future husband Donald J. Harris during a talk at the Afro-American Association at the University of California, Berkeley in 1962, leading to an unconventional marriage.
After a challenging financial situation, no family members could attend her wedding due to travel costs.
Actively engaged in research from 1963 and made important contributions in breast cancer studies.
Post her divorce in 1971, she raised her daughters independently, often taking them back to Chennai to visit family.
She was recognized by the Breast Cancer Action organization for her contributions and posthumously advocated for cancer research funding through her donations.

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