Hearing the name Tulsi Gabbard, people have started searching the connection of this name with India. Tulsi Gabbard is the US Intelligence czar who met with Indian PM Modi this morning. She was sworn in as the US Director of Intelligence following a narrow 52-48 Senate vote on Wednesday. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, her appointment places her in charge of America’s 18 intelligence agencies, overseeing and coordinating their operations.
Gabbard is the first Hindu-American woman to serve in Congress. But who is this woman with an Indian name who has now landed a top role in the U.S.? In fact, she isn’t the only one in her family with an Indian name—her siblings do too. Her sister is named Vrindavan, while her brothers are named Jay, Bhakti, and Aryan.
Is Tulsi Gabbard Indian?
Due to her Hindu name, there have been misconceptions about her heritage. But Gabbard is an american born politician. She was born to Mike Gabbard and Carol Porter on April 12, 1981. Her father is a Catholic-turned-Hindu and has also served as Hawaii State Senator. She grew up in a Samoan family in Hawaii with her siblings who have hindu names. Her upbringing was influenced by principles from the Bhagavad Gita and the Science of Identity(SIF), a Vaishnava Hindu group related to ISKCON. She is a yoga enthusiast and practices meditation.
Her husband, Abraham Williams, has maintained a relatively low profile despite his strong support for her career. Williams is a filmmaker known for his work on documentaries, features, and music videos.
Gabbard, who took an oath on the Bhagavad Gita during her time as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has made headlines for her outspoken views on U.S. foreign policy, her departure from the Democratic Party in 2022, and her strong advocacy for India and Hindu Americans.
Modi-Gabbard Meet
Tulsi Gabbard met Indian Prime Minister Modi after being confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence. Their meeting signifies potential enhancements in intelligence cooperation between the US and India, amidst Gabbard’s longstanding spiritual ties to India and scrutiny over her loyalties in the US establishment.
The meeting occurred just hours after Gabbard was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the head of the Directorate of National Intelligence (DNI) and shortly after Modi’s arrival in the U.S. capital. The meeting is considered to be an unusual engagement as such public meetings between intelligence chiefs and world leaders are rare.
More Political Than A Bureaucrat
Gabbard is an Iraq War veteran, who has served as a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard with three deployments in war zones. Despite these military credentials, Critics have raised concerns about Gabbard’s lack of experience in intelligence or national security, questioning whether she is truly qualified to lead the U.S. intelligence community.
Trump has praised her as a “fearless” leader, highlighting her dedication to defending America and its people for over two decades. However, critics remain skeptical, pointing to her past stances on key issues like Russia, Syria, and Edward Snowden as cause for concern.
