The recent midterm elections in the United States have resulted in the election of Abdul El-Sayed as the first Muslim senator in the country. El-Sayed, a Democrat, secured the Michigan Senate seat during the elections held on November 3. His victory is part of a broader trend referred to as a blue wave, which saw a significant shift towards Democratic candidates across the nation. What is less known is El-Sayed’s connection to Karnataka, India.

His wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku, is the granddaughter of a former minister in the Mysore State Government. This familial link highlights the diverse backgrounds of political figures in the US. Dr Jukaku’s family has roots in Bhatkal, a coastal town located in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, approximately 140 km north of Mangaluru. Her grandfather, JH Shamsuddin Jukaku, was a notable lawyer and politician who served as deputy finance minister in the 1950s.

Legacy of JH Shamsuddin Jukaku

JH Shamsuddin Jukaku was a significant figure in the Nawayath Muslim community, an ancient merchant group that settled in southern India over the past six centuries. He was the first individual from his community to qualify as a lawyer and subsequently enter politics. In 1946, he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly and later represented the Honnavar constituency in the Mysore Legislative Assembly, winning elections in 1957 and 1962.

He became deputy minister for finance under Chief Minister BD Jatti in 1958 and later served as deputy minister for electricity under Chief Minister S Nijalingappa. Shamsuddin’s contributions to Bhatkal included improving essential infrastructure, such as electricity. He was involved with Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen, a charitable trust focused on education in the region. His legacy continues to be remembered, with a prominent intersection in Bhatkal once named Shamsuddin Circle, although the physical structure has since been removed.

Family Journey from Bhatkal to the US

Dr Jukaku’s father, Dr Jukaku S Tayeb, was among those who left Bhatkal for better prospects. A nephrologist, he graduated from Bangalore Medical College in 1976 and later moved to the US in the 1980s after working in Saudi Arabia. He completed his residency in internal medicine in Michigan and established a medical practice in the Detroit area.

Sarah Jukaku was raised in Michigan within an Indian immigrant family. Her parents made efforts to maintain their cultural ties, ensuring that their children visited Bengaluru and Bhatkal. The family also kept connections with Coorg, with several relatives eventually settling in Bengaluru.

Sarah met Abdul El-Sayed while attending the University of Michigan, where both were involved in the Muslim Students’ Association. They married in May 2006. Sarah later pursued graduate studies at the University of Oxford and earned her medical degree from Columbia University in 2015, building a career in psychiatry.

El-Sayed’s Acknowledgement of Indian Heritage

Abdul El-Sayed has publicly acknowledged his wife’s Indian heritage. At an event celebrating Pakistan’s Independence Day, he referred to Sarah as “desi,” a term commonly used for individuals of South Asian descent. He has expressed his familiarity with South Indian culture, noting his long-standing marriage to Sarah.

El-Sayed’s connection to Bhatkal has drawn renewed attention to the region, linking him to a family with a rich political history in India. While his political career has unfolded in the United States, his marriage to Dr Jukaku has established a significant connection to a family that has contributed to post-Independence Indian politics.

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