A practising psychiatrist, Sarah was born into an Indian-immigrant Muslim family in Michigan, with roots tracing back to the coastal town of Bhatkal in Karnataka, located roughly 140km from Mangaluru.
Her family boasts a prominent history in the region. Her grandfather, Jukaku Shamshuddin, served as deputy minister for finance in Mysore State under then chief minister BD Jatti. Widely regarded as the first lawyer from the Bhatkal area, he is remembered for driving local development, including bringing electricity to the town.
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Sarah's father, Dr Tayeb Jukaku, is a nephrologist who completed his MBBS in Bengaluru prior to immigrating to the US. He has also been active with the Islamic Society of North America, serving on its founders' committee.
Despite Sarah growing up in the United States, her father consciously ensured his children remained connected to their ancestral heritage by arranging visits to Bengaluru and Bhatkal. Although much of the extended family has since settled in Bengaluru, Sarah's immediate family remains primarily in the…