Indian-Origin Zohran Mamdani Sworn In as New York’s First Muslim Mayor

Zohran Mamdani has officially taken the oath as New York City’s new mayor in a historic ceremony held at a decommissioned subway station in Manhattan. The 34-year-old Democrat became the city’s first Muslim mayor, placing his hand on the Quran as his wife, Rama Duwaji, stood beside him.

“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said during the ceremony, which was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James at the old City Hall station, renowned for its arched ceilings.

A larger public swearing-in is scheduled at City Hall, where US Senator Bernie Sanders—one of Mamdani’s political inspirations—will administer the oath. The event will be followed by a celebratory block party along Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes,” famous for its ticker-tape parades.

Mamdani and his wife will move from their rent-stabilised apartment in the outer boroughs to the official mayoral residence in Manhattan, as he begins one of the most demanding roles in American politics.

About Zohran Mamdani

Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991 to filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar-activist Mahmood Mamdani, Zohran represents multiple diasporas. He is not only New York’s first Muslim mayor but also its first of South Asian descent and the first born in Africa. At 34, he is the youngest mayor the city has seen in generations.

His family moved to New York when he was seven, and he grew up in a post-9/11 environment where Muslims often felt marginalized. He became a US citizen in 2018, later working on Democratic campaigns before winning a state Assembly seat in Queens in 2020.

His Vision and Challenges

Mamdani’s campaign centered on affordability, promising transformative policies such as free childcare, free buses, rent freezes for nearly a million households, and city-run grocery store pilots.

But alongside ambitious reforms, he will face everyday challenges—managing trash, snow, rats, subway delays, and potholes—while navigating national politics. President Donald Trump has previously threatened to withhold federal funding from New York if Mamdani won, even suggesting deploying the National Guard.

The Road Ahead

Mamdani inherits a city showing signs of recovery: violent crime has fallen to pre-pandemic levels, tourism has rebounded, and unemployment has dropped back to pre-COVID rates. Yet concerns over rising rents and high living costs remain pressing issues.

As New York’s youngest and first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani steps into office with both historic significance and immense responsibility.