AUCA Library in a New Campus Named after Noor and Ann Lakhdhir

August 1, 2014

AUCA Library in a new campus named after Noor and Ann Lakhdhir

Education plays a huge role in our lives, especially when you want to make significant changes for better future. Noor and Ann Lakhdhir, parents of David Lakhdhir, member of AUCA Board of Trustees are individuals who always believed in positive power of education. Their personal story proves what a life changing experience pursuing education is. Noor Lakhdhir was born in Mumbai, India in about 1925.  His father died when he was about 11 years old, so after that he and his surviving younger brother and sister (3 lived out of 9) were raised by his mother Shirin, a relatively uneducated but remarkable woman.  After high school Noor was expecting to have to get a full-time job to help support his mother and younger siblings, but to his family’s surprise he won a scholarship to attend St. Xavier’s College at the University of Bombay.  He studied physics, and in his last year at St. Xavier’s he asked his mother if he could go abroad for further study.  His mother knew it was impossible as they had no money and there was  no chance one would give money to a  poor Muslim boy in Mumbai to study in America.  But she was wrong.  Noor received a scholarship to study at the University of California, Berkeley, from which he graduated in 1952.  He later moved to New York City, where he lived in International House while working during the day at several jobs and studying at night at New York University.  One of his jobs was working at the newsstand at International House, where each morning a young woman who also lived there bought the New York Times.

David Lakhdhir’s mother Ann was born and raised in New York City, graduated from Harvard University in 1954 and then moved back to New York to pursue graduate studies in international relations at Columbia University.  One of her primary interests was U.S.-Soviet relations, so she learned to speak Russian and hoped to become a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service.  In those days it was not possible for a woman to be in the Foreign Service if she married, so that dream was never fulfilled, but one of the many things she did do was marry Noor in 1957.

Noor and Ann have two children.  Their daughter Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, fulfilled her mother’s dream and serves as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service.

Because of the huge role that education played in transforming Noor’s life, he and Ann have during their life sponsored scholarships and contributed to educational institutions, particularly in India, but also elsewhere.  They  funded  construction of a library at a school in Mumbai.  They also both have an interest in Central Asia, and traveled with their children to the region in 1968, which was memorable and sparked Mr David Lakhdhir’s interest in the region.   For these reasons David together with  hiswife Linda and his sister Kamala think that a contribution to the construction of the library at AUCA would be a particularly fitting tribute to Noor and Ann Lakhdhir.

Noor and Ann Lakhdhir currently live in Westport, Connecticut and very much looking forward to visiting the new campus of AUCA when it is completed.

For background of Mr David Lakhdhir, member of AUCA Board of Trustees, please follow the linkhttps://auca.kg/en/trustees/147/

AUCA Family is extending its deep appreciation to Lakhdhir Family for their generous support! We believe the story of our donors will motivate AUCA students to strive for higher achievements in their studies, inspire our friends and partners to stay engaged and extend their involvement with AUCA as we move forward in fulfilling our mission! We welcome any contributions to the new development at AUCA that will make a difference in lives and give many more opportunities for future leaders of Central Asia!

To learn about ways to support AUCA, please visit https://auca.kg/en/campus/ or contact Ms Aisulu Sulaimanova, Director of Development at development@mail.auca.kg

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