US Presidential Elections 2020 have now given a rise to a new debate regarding US President-Elect Joe Biden’s Indian connection.
Recently, speculations have surfaced regarding Democrat candidate and US President-Elect Joe Biden’s Indian heritage and family connections to the sub-continent.
According to details, a plaque at St George’s Cathedral carrying the name of Christopher Biden – a 19th century British ship captain has become a trending ‘selfie spot’ in Chennai, India over ‘speculations’ regarding Joe Biden’s possible relation to him.
The development comes as Kamala Harris US – Vice President-Elect and Joe Biden’s running mate, has already been under the spotlight for her Indian origins.
Kamala Harris is the Daughter of an Indian-American mother and African-American father and was elected a US Senator from California in 2016.
A letter’s tale
Joe Biden first commented on his ‘Indian connection’ on his visit to India back in 2013. During a trip to Mumbai, Joe Biden revealed that he had received a letter from ‘an Indian Biden’ after winning a senate election back in 1972.
The letter suggested that two could in-fact be related in some way, said Joe Biden.
It argued that their mutual, great, great, great, something or other worked for the East India Trading Company back in the 1700s.
According to Reverend J. George Stephen – Bishop of Madras, records show two Bidens namely Christopher Biden and his brother William Biden who worked for East India Company in 19th century.
Christopher Biden commanded several ships and eventually settled in Chennai (then known as Madras), he added.
However, Joe Biden failed to ensure any significant follow-up on the letter – a fact he said to ‘regretted’.
The ‘other’ Bidens
There are several other Biden families living in Mumbai and Nagpur in Indian state of Maharashtra and ‘could be’ the descendants of Christopher – one of the eight children of a John Biden.
Rowena Biden – a Mumbai resident, has said their family has in-fact refuted any claims of being related with the US President-Elect.
Media has reported that media has speculated that it was their late grandfather, Leslie who wrote to the US politician.
Furthermore, she added that their common last name has resulted in unwanted limelight and media coverage which in-return has severely affected their lives.
No substantive proof
Media speculations rooting for Joe Biden’s Indian connection are essentially nothing but typical yellow journalism Indian media is known and famous for.
So far, no credible and substantive proof has emerged supporting Joe Biden’s Indian heritage and origin.
The strenuous efforts regarding US President-Elect’s Indian connections have no base and lack any evidence to back such claims.
