Hamaare Thoughts: Amritsar

Passing through the end ..the last phase of the year..some women showed up some major achievements on International platform...being an immigrant ...made up to this level is appreciable...now that's what I call a gutsy women!!....Nikki Haley...

one more Indian family that came into limelight!!

Nikki Haley South Carolina Governor Elect.

Nikki Haley (née Nimrata Randhawa, born January 20, 1972) is an elected official from the U.S. state of South Carolina currently serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives Lexington County...

Biography...

Nikki Haley was born in Bamberg, South Carolina. Her parents Dr. Ajit and Raj Randhawa are Indian Punjabi Sikh immigrants from Amritsar and she has an older brother Mitti, sister Simran Singh, and younger brother Charan. She went to Clemson University and majored in Accounting and then joined the FCR Corporation before joining her mother's business in 1994. The family business grew to a multi million dollar company.

Career...

She became treasurer of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2003 and president in 2004. She chaired the Lexington Gala to raise funds for the local hospital. She also serves on the Lexington Medical Foundation, Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation, West Metro Republican Women, President of the South Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Chairman for 2006 Friends of Scouting Leadership Division campaign and is a member of the Rotary Club in Lexington...

She has served as secretary of the Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committees. She also was elected chairman of the Freshman caucus in 2005 and elected as a Majority whip in the South Carolina General Assembly. She was the only freshman legislator named to a whip spot.

On May 14, 2009, Nikki Haley announced she is running for the Republican nomination for Governor of South Carolina in 2010

...Key issues
Leadership: “In order to really lead with the Legislature you have to be predictable. … In order to do that, you have to have the right staff. I would much rather deal with what’s wrong with a bill and make it right as opposed to waiting for it to get to the floor and just saying no to it.”

Tax reform: “We have the most band-aided tax structure in the country. We need to look at every single tax. We need to look at every single fee … and we need to look at every single exemption. The first thing we need to do is to eliminate the small business income tax.”

Roll call voting and increased government transparency: “Bills were being passed and legislators were not putting their name with their vote. As an accountant, all I saw were dollar signs. They were growing government and you couldn’t see the spending habits of your lawmakers. … I think you should know who voted for it and against it.”

Personal life..

(Nikki Haley's Sikh wedding picture)

Haley was raised in a Sikh family, and identifies herself as a Christian, and sits on the board for Mt. Horeb, United Methodist Church, Med mission. On September 6, 1996 she married Michael Haley, in a Methodist church ceremony...and later with a Sikh ceremony too.. Michael is a federal employee with the United States Department of the Army and an officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard. Together they have two children, Rena and Nalan.

Mitti (nikki's older brother)is an active duty officer who has served in the U.S. Army for the past 20 years...

..Not many women reach at this level and have a mind of their own with no strings attached..Nikki Haley is one of them who has done this.... which makes us proud!

I condemn all those comments made on Nikki that she has embraced Christianity and left her religion and other things regarding India..I would say one thing...her Name will be Nikki forever (given by her parents),,and her parents will be Indians forever as we are...and not to forget..all girls change their last names once they get married... why is she singled out? just because she is Nikki Haley...??

I know many Sikh women who are married to Muslim guys...or Arabic's or Christians....they are converted too...and there are many guys converted to Sikhs too..I see them in Gurudwara or temple..

.JUST FOR SAKE OF THEIR LOVE!!(they did not change for Career opportunities)if that is the case...