Family pride claims its share of American pie

In a predominantly Republican district, Dandekar, a Democrat, defeated Cory Crowley by 10 percentage points. Her win has delighted Sanjivani who says she was ‘‘confident’’ her sister would be elected to the Senate from Iowa for a second time.

Speaking over the phone from her 28th Avenue residence in Marion, Dandekar is quick to credit her Indian upbringing. ‘‘I brought to Iowa what I learnt in India…my values, heritage and culture are very dear to me,’’ said the 52-year-old.

Swati and husband Arvind, a telecom engineer and president of Fastek International, migrated to Cedar Rapids, Marion, in 1973. She became a US citizen in 1996.

Wishing Kerry had won, the first Indian-born American citizen to win a state legislature says that being an Indian, she ‘‘knew exactly how to be a part of others’’.

‘‘She was brilliant at debates and won many trophies for her school for eight years,’’ said Dandekar’s elated parents — Prabhakar and Sugandha Dharmadhikari.

In hometown Nagpur, at sister-in-law Asha Mande’s 100-year-old ancestral house, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing. ‘‘We came to know 10 minutes after she won. We are extremely happy, it’s such a remarkable achievement,’’ said Asha, Arvind’s younger sister. ‘‘Her hard work has paid off.’’

Swati lived in Nagpur with her maternal grandfather till 1972 because her father was frequently transferred across India.

After schooling at Nagpur’s Tata Parsi School, she completed her graduation in Science from the local Hislop College. A year later, she finished a PG diploma in dietetics from Mumbai University.

Friends and relatives say even then Dandekar displayed leadership qualities. Asha is quick to rattle off a long list of Dandekar’s qualities. ‘‘She’s deeply religious, she observes a fast during Navratri, and is extremely good at knitting and embroidery.’’

The Dandekars are scheduled to visit India next month. The destination? Hyderabad, where their son Ajay’s marriage will be solemnised according to Hindu rituals.