Vivek Ramaswamy speaks about wife’s miscarriage, his Hindu faith at forum

Republican US presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, during an event in Iowa, opened up about his wife’s miscarriage, a story he had not previously shared on the campaign trail.

Ramaswamy described how his wife Apoorva, during her medical residency in New York City, woke up one day to the devastating reality of a miscarriage three-and-a-half-months into her pregnancy. The loss of their first child was a profound moment for the couple, who later faced the fear of a second miscarriage.

“About three and a half months (into the pregnancy)…one day she woke up, she was bleeding. She had a miscarriage. We lost our first child,” Ramaswamy said at the Family Leader Thanksgiving Family Forum in Iowa.

However, in a turn of events that brought relief and joy a few years later, doctors discovered a heartbeat, signaling the existence of their next child, Karthik, who joined his father on stage at the event.

The forum provided a platform for the candidates to connect with voters on a more personal level, diverging from the typical debate format.

Ramaswamy, alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, shared these intimate family stories, resonating with the audience’s values and experiences.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY ON HINDU FAITH
Amid the personal narratives, Ramaswamy also spoke candidly about his Hindu faith, asserting that it was what led him to the presidential campaign.

“My faith is what gives me my freedom. My faith is what led me to this presidential campaign…I am a Hindu. I believe there is one true God. I believe god put each of us here for a purpose. My faith teaches us that we have a duty, a moral duty to realise that purpose. Those are God’s instruments that work through us in different ways, but we are still equal because God resides in each of us. That’s the core of my faith,” he said at the forum, as quoted by news agency ANI.

He also spoke about his alignment with moral duties and values that are central to both Hinduism and Christianity.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Ramaswamy shared the traditional values instilled in him by his parents, including the sanctity of marriage, respect for parents, and the significance of abstinence before marriage.

He drew parallels between the tenets of his Hindu faith and the Christian values he learned while attending a Christian high school, suggesting that these principles transcend religious boundaries and belong to a higher divine power.

The 2024 presidential election in the United States is set to take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.