Usha Chilukuri’s 96-year-old Indian grand aunt rooting for Vance’s win

Long before Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Ohio Senator and Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, rose to prominence, her 96-year-old grandaunt, Chilukuri Santhamma, had become a household name in Andhra Pradesh. Despite her advanced age, Santhamma continues to teach as a physics professor at a private university in Vizianagaram.
Beyond her academic pursuits, she is a philanthropist who donated her house in Visakhapatnam to Vivekanand Medical Trust to run a clinic; it will soon be turned into a hospital.
When informed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had picked Usha's husband as his running mate, Santhamma expressed her joy for her grandneice. "Usha is the granddaughter of Rama Sastry, my husband Subramanya Sastry's eldest brother. I am happy she has inherited the sharp intellect and acumen that runs in our family. Both my husband and his elder brother (Usha's grandfather) served as university professors. Our family also holds deep societal concerns. My husband, in fact, spent two years in jail during the Emergency as he was an RSS worker," Santhamma told TOI.
Santhamma conveyed her blessings to Usha and expressed optimism for her husband's success in the US elections in Nov. "It is a proud moment for the family. I desire to see them contribute to India once they win the election. Additionally, I hope they will propagate the profound philosophies of Hinduism in the US," she added.
Santhamma commutes 60km to teach at Centurion University
When asked about her commitment to teaching at the age of 96, Santhamma said it keeps her going. "As long as you are healthy, you must dedicate yourself to do good for society. Otherwise, as the saying goes, an idle mind can easily become the devil's workshop," she said.
Santhamma joined Andhra University in Visakhapatnam as a lecturer in 1956 and retired in 1989. But she continues to be an honorary faculty member.
Her expertise in atomic and molecular spectroscopy has garnered her widespread acclaim. Beyond physics, she delves into the depths of the Puranas, Vedas, and Upanishads.
Her notable literary achievements include "Bhagavad Gita - The Divine Directive", an English interpretation of Bhagavad Gita slokas. Despite overcoming knee surgeries and relying on crutches, she remains a beacon of inspiration, commuting 60 km each way from Vizag to Vizianagaram to teach at Centurion University.