Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has made history by defeating Republican Mike Rogers in the US Senate race, becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. But his victory has also brought an unexpected connection to India into the spotlight through his wife, Sarah Jukaku, whose family traces its roots to Bhatkal in Karnataka.
But while Jukaku’s ancestral roots trace back to Karnataka, her own story is firmly rooted in the United States.
Who is Sarah Jukaku?
Born in Michigan to Indian immigrant parents, Sarah grew up in the United States while retaining her family's connection to Karnataka.
Her father, Dr Tayeb Jukaku, is a nephrologist from Bhatkal and has been associated with Muslim community organisations in the US. He serves on the Michigan chapter's board of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and has been part of the founders’ committee of the Islamic Society of North America.
Sarah’s grandfather, JH Shamsuddin Jukaku, was a prominent lawyer and public figure who served as deputy finance minister in the erstwhile Mysore State government under Chief Minister BD Jatti.
He is remembered for his contributions to public life and the development of Bhatkal.
According to a report by The American Bazaar, Sarah’s grandfather is credited with helping bring electricity and other essential infrastructure to Bhatkal and surrounding areas. He also played an important role in strengthening educational and community institutions at a time when opportunities for formal education were limited.
Today, while many of her family members have moved to Bengaluru, the Jukaku legacy lives on in Bhatkal through their many contributions to education.
From Michigan and Oxford to Columbia
Sarah pursued dual degrees in sociology and Near Eastern studies at the University of Michigan before earning a master's degree from the University of Oxford.
She subsequently studied medicine at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. After working at the University of Michigan Health in a senior psychiatry position, she established her private practice, Mind Work Psychiatry, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
How Abdul El Sayed met Sarah
The couple first met while studying at the University of Michigan, where both were members of the university’s Muslim Students’ Association.
El-Sayed proposed to Sarah when she was in her first year at university. They married in May 2006, when she was 19. The couple have two daughters, Emmalee and Serene.
‘I am more Indian than Arab’: Abdul El-Sayed
El-Sayed has spoken candidly about how his marriage has shaped his connection with Indian culture.
Reflecting on two decades in a South Indian family, he once remarked:
“Listen, I’ve been married in a South Indian family for 20 years, like… I am well inducted now; I… you know, I might be more Indian than I am Arab.”
