new delhi nikki haley may bear unite state extend family back india thrill south carolina governor name u.s. president-elect donald trump ambassador unite nations haley parent hail rural punjab northwestern india move amritsar home golden temple holy place sikh religion emigrate north america early 1960s haley 44 bear nimrata randhawa bamberg south carolina call nikki child take family name husband michael marry sikh methodist ceremonies 1996. kanwaljit singh randhawa 70-year-old cousin tell reuters family friends delight haley appointment say could help improve relations unite state india great achievement punjab india proud fact nikki achieve success randhawa tell reuters telephone randhawa retire lecturer say regular touch nikki father ajit singh randhawa grow village pandori run singh south amritsar india foreign ministry say happy hear news haley appointment describe supporter close u.s.-india tie meet prime minister narendra modi visit washington june know governor haley well say spokesman vikas swarup india foreign secretary visit unite state early month interact senior level trump transition team also say haley come india four-year-old child speak punjabi convert christianity visit india recently official capacity go amritsar november 2014 call emotional personal day always yearn see punjab motherland proud almost 40 years tell tv reporters time voice choke emotion steady nip water bottle biography similar richard verma first u.s. ambassador new delhi indian origin bear unite state punjabi family visit often child verma mob relatives locals visit ancestral home early 2015. haley little foreign policy experience trump express favorable view toward india real estate interest tycoon-turned-tv reality star tell one cultural event put diaspora republicans presidential campaign love country people trump state intention ban immigration muslims countries source islamist militancy play well many india majority hindu nation long odds muslim-majority pakistan much diplomacy rivalry india pakistan nuclear-armed power play corridors un headquarter new york haley appointment likely see positively new delhi light india world large democracy also lobby make permanent member expand un security council although doubtful would priority trump back punjab relatives old family friends plan major celebration mark elevation haley top diplomatic post go golden temple amritsar pray success say randhawa speak friends villagers function next days india 's punjab haley relatives cheer appointment un envoy