Abdul El-Sayed’s US Senate win gives Karnataka coastal town a reason to celebrate
Mangalore Today News Network
Bhatkal, US, Nov 5, 2026: The political success of Abdul El-Sayed in the United States has brought a special sense of pride to Bhatkal, a coastal town in Karnataka, nearly 8,000 km away. El-Sayed is set to make history as the first Muslim to become a US Senator.
The connection to Bhatkal comes through his wife, Sarah Jukaku, whose family has deep roots in the town and is remembered for its contribution to the region’s development nearly 75 years ago, even before the formation of Karnataka.
The Jukaku family belongs to the Nawayath community, an ancient Muslim merchant community whose ancestors migrated from Yemen, Arabia, Iran and Iraq and settled in the coastal towns of southern India over the past 600 years.
One of the family’s prominent members, Jukaku Shamsuddin, was a well-known lawyer who served as Deputy Finance Minister in the Mysore government under Chief Minister B.D. Jatti during the 1950s. He was the first lawyer from the community and also the first to become a minister.
During his tenure, Bhatkal witnessed significant development, including improvements in town planning, roads, electricity and educational institutions.
Journalist Aftab Husain Kola, author of the book JH Shamshuddin – Service Above Self, recalled Shamsuddin’s contribution to the town and described him as a person known for his commitment to principles and strong moral values.
The Anjuman Hami-e-Muslimeen, a charitable trust in Bhatkal that runs several educational institutions, has named its administrative building after Shamsuddin in recognition of his contribution.
Shamsuddin died at the age of 52, leaving behind his wife Zubeidah Begum, six daughters and four sons. In the years that followed, members of the family moved to different parts of the country in pursuit of education and business opportunities, with many settling in Bengaluru.
Sarah’s father, Dr Jukaku S Tayeb, was among them. After spending his early years in Bhatkal, he joined Bangalore Medical College in 1976 to pursue medical studies. He later moved to the Middle East before settling in Michigan in the 1980s, where he worked as a nephrologist.
Sarah’s first cousin, Jukaku Shamshuddin Zia, who was named after their grandfather, said the family had learnt about the latter’s contributions through relatives and people who had known him.
He recalled that Sarah and her parents regularly visited Bengaluru and Bhatkal with the family to remain connected to their ancestral roots. During these visits, they also met their grandfather’s friends and relatives. However, such visits have become less frequent in recent years.
Zia, who travels between Dubai and Bengaluru, said the family was proud of Abdul El-Sayed’s achievements and his commitment to public service.
He described El-Sayed as a person guided by values and principles who had dedicated himself to serving the public.
Despite differing political views within the extended family, Zia said politics rarely featured in their family WhatsApp group, which also includes Sarah. The group, comprising children and grandchildren, remains a platform for sharing family updates and keeping in touch.
Courtesy: The Indian EXPRESS