India
In Trump’s moment, a Democrat win lights up an NCR house – Times of India
There, around the same time that Trump-led Republicans began to smell a decisive victory, an Indian-American Democrat won an impressive victory in DuPage County. The victor was accidental Saba Haider (40), the daughter of Ali and Chandni.
Saba won a seat on the DuPage County Board, defeating her Republican rival and incumbent Patty Gustin by 8,521 votes.
The DuPage board consists of elected representatives from six districts. The term of office is determined by drawing lots – and Saba will remain in the seat for two years.
At her house Chitragupta Viharher parents couldn’t be more proud.
“She has always been so talented. Saba has a circle of friends of politically active people who motivated her to stand as a candidate for the provincial elections. If she wants to progress in politics, we are always there for her,” said Ali, who retired as an engineer from UP Jal Nigam.
Ali and Chandni now manage a school for the underprivileged in Ghaziabad. They live in the Sanjay Nagar house with Saba’s elder brother Avas and his family. They have a younger son, Zeeshan, who runs a business in Dubai.
“When Saba was born, we lived in Sector 19 of Noida. We moved to Ghaziabad only in 1993,” Chandni told TOI.
Saba attended Holy Child School in Ghaziabad. She obtained a BSc from Ram Chameli Chadha Vishvas Girls’ College in the city and obtained a gold medal in science from Aligarh Muslim University.
“She always took part in debates and oratory. I believe her strong academic background laid the foundation for her passion for politics and public service,” says Chandni.
In 2006, Saba married Ali Kazmi, a computer engineer from Bulandshahr, and moved to the US with him. The couple is based in Chicago and has two children: Azim (14) and Aizah (10).
In the US, Saba became a certified yoga teacher and trained a wide range of clients from college students to corporate executives. That made her popular among the locals, her mother emphasizes.
“Yoga is also very popular in the US. Saba has organized several events to promote wellness,” she says. “Her husband is also involved in social security and health care and supports my daughter’s political ambitions.”
For Saba, her mother is her greatest source of inspiration. Saba announced her victory in the polls on Wednesday, writing on Facebook: “This victory is dedicated to my mother, who is eternally optimistic and always giving and kind. Whenever I told her as a child that I wanted to achieve something that seemed outside the norm, she would encourage me and always say, “Absolutely, if you work hard enough!” Mom, thank you for encouraging me to believe in myself….”
However, it was not a piece of cake for Saba. Her feet were numb from all the walking she had to do for prospecting.
“Saba said to me, ‘Mommy, I can’t even feel my feet.’ I told her to get a foot massage but she said she didn’t have time for that. On Monday, when the votes were cast, Saba said her toenails were broken and she was bleeding from them. It hurt to see my daughter in pain. But today I am very proud of her,” says Chandni.
The last time Saba came home was in June 2022, when Zeeshan got married.
“She came to India after years. We had such a fun time between all the wedding festivities. But we continue to go to the US every now and then,” she adds.
However, this was not the first time that Saba took part in the election campaign. In November 2022, she lost the provincial polls by about 1,000 votes. “She was determined to compete again. And we were there to support her,” says her mother.
Saba has left no stone unturned since the loss. “I have been to so many doorsteps, talking to people and asking for votes,” she told TOI from Chicago on Thursday.
For Saba, raising two children and gaining a foothold in politics at the same time was easier said than done. “Being from Ghaziabad, I had never seen snow in my life. Here we get 60 cm of snow. Battling extreme weather conditions, shopping at just one ‘desi’ supermarket and raising children has been quite difficult for me and my husband. But we gradually got used to it,” she says.
Does she see a stable career in politics? “I haven’t thought about it yet. I just work for the community and see where it takes me. This victory means a lot to me as my opponent has been a candidate for 20 years.”
About Trump’s victory, she says: “I had hoped the Democrats would win. But if I accept the results in this democracy, I hope that the next leadership focuses on growth, development and inclusivity. There is a lot of confusion and fear among the people of this country that needs to be addressed.”
