Through the night after Pia Dandiya was elected to the US House of Representatives from Florida's 22nd congressional district, her father, Dr Rohit Dandiya, phone didn't stop ringing. Calls came from relatives in India and US.

For the Dandiya family, whose roots trace back to Jaipur, the result was more than a political victory in faraway Florida. It was a deeply personal moment for a daughter who grew up in US but kept her Jaipur connection alive. "It's an unimaginable moment for the entire family," Dr Dandiya told TOI over the phone from US.

Pia was born and raised in US, but her father says India remained part of her world. "She likes Indian food, culture and Bollywood," he said. "Meeting family and friends and spending time with her grandparents is important to her," Dr Dandiya said.

Her parents had once hoped she would become a doctor. Pia chose another path - education and public service. Pia studied at Harvard University and later earned a master's in education from Boston University. Her engagement with social issues began early. During her Harvard years she spent a break teaching English to kids from underprivileged communities in Delhi. Her father said the experience deepened her interest in understanding disadvantaged communities.