Indian-Tibetian Democrat Aftab Pureval Becomes Cincinnatis 70th Mayor

Aftab Karma Singh Pureval was born in Xenia, Ohio, where he lived with his Indian immigrant father and Tibetan refugee mother.

FREMONT, CA : Aftab Pureval created history as he was sworn in as the first Asian-American Mayor of Cincinnati. Son to an Indian father and a Tibetian mother, Pureval became the 70th Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio. Local Tibetians and Indian-Americans attended the ceremony, and the Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana Tibetan Association presented Aftab Pureval with a letter from Dalai Lama, the Tibetian spiritual leader, wishing him prosperity and health.

Through interactions with Tibetian communities, Pureval witnessed that despite living under new, unfamiliar circumstances, the communities' children were able to maintain their sense of identity while contributing to the development of their new home country. In the letter Dalai Lama wrote to Pureval, the spiritual leader wished that Pureval could offer services to the less fortunate members of their constituencies. On Twitter, Pureval shows his excitement in the Dalai Lama's recognition and said that the leader’s concerns for the most vulnerable have always inspired him.

Shortly after his sworn-in ceremony, Aftab tweeted that Cincinnati has a great chapter ahead of it, and even though there will be challenges and harsh decisions, he will ensure his commitment to the welfare of the city. Pureval defeated city councilor and fellow Democrat David Mann in the November election, acquiring 64% votes.

Aftab Karma Singh Pureval was born in Xenia, Ohio, where he lived with his Indian immigrant father and Tibetan refugee mother. After attending the Beavercreek High School, Pureval graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor in Arts degree in Political Science. He later enrolled at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where he worked as an editor of the college’s law review journal, ultimately earning his Juris Doctor in 2008.