Pramila Jayapal Travels To India After Father’s Passing

India-West Staff Reporter

SEATTLE, WA – U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) lost her father, M.P. Jayapal, on January 20. The congresswoman will temporarily step away from her duties to be with her family in India during this time of mourning.

“My beloved father, M.P. Jayapal passed away peacefully last night. I am returning to India to be with my mother and sister as we mourn and celebrate the man who gave so much for us to have the opportunities we have had,” Rep. Jayapal shared in a statement. “My office will remain open as usual to serve WA-07. Thank you for your kind wishes and love.”

M.P. Jayapal, 92, was a dedicated family man who prioritized education and instilled values of perseverance and ambition in his daughters. In a 2023 social media post, Rep. Jayapal reflected on her father’s remarkable life. She described how he excelled academically, supported his family from a young age, and broke societal norms by ensuring that his daughters received higher education in the United States.

“He instilled in us the belief that we could achieve our aspirations,” she wrote, highlighting his positive outlook and active lifestyle as defining characteristics.

Born in India, M.P. Jayapal moved his family abroad in 1969, living in Indonesia and later Singapore for 24 years. His wife, Maya Jayapal, a writer, and their daughters, Pramila and Susheela, were profoundly shaped by these experiences. Susheela too ran for public office in Oregon where she works as a lawyer.