Indian-American philanthropist Anil Kochhar, who was the speaker at the North Carolina State University Wilson College of Textiles’ graduation ceremony on May 8, surprised the 176 graduates by announcing that he and his wife will pay off their education loans so that graduates can pursue their dreams independently without worrying about money.“It is my privilege to announce today that, in honor of my father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, Marilyn and I are providing a graduation gift to cover all final-year education debt incurred by Wilson College graduates during the 2025-26 academic year,” Kochhar said in making the announcement. The hall echoed with cheers.“Marilyn and I hope that you all leave Reynolds Coliseum today not only with a degree, but with greater freedom to pursue your goals, take risks, and build the life you have worked so hard to achieve.”Anil Kochhar shared, “Eighty years ago, a young man (Anil Kochhar’s father) traveled thousands of miles from India to Raleigh with hope and determination. He had no idea where the journey would lead. He could not have imagined the life it would create, or that one day his son would speak to a graduating class at the same institution that had welcomed him.”Kochhar said, “My father would not have even imagined this moment. Not only am I standing here, but all of you are sitting here.” “A new generation, shaped by a different world, but connected by the same sense of possibility that brought them here decades ago. And that’s what today represents.”
Who was Anil Kochhar’s father?
Prakash Chand Kochhar was born in Punjab, India and was the second Indian student admitted to Wilson College of Textiles in 1946. In 1950, he earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in 1952, and joined the textile industry. The Kochhar family made America their home and paid back the community.A year after Prakash Chand Kochhar’s death in 1985, his wife, whom he had met at North Carolina College, Christine Hayes Kochhar, took the initiative to create the Prakash Chand Kochhar Memorial Textile Scholarship for the university.Anil Kochhar and his wife Marilyn carried on the legacy and initiated three gifts to the university.
- Prakash Chand Kochhar Dean’s Chair Endowment, to provide support to the Dean and/or general resources for the College.
- Prakash Chand Kochhar Endowed Faculty Fund, to award awards for a period of five years and to provide funds for activities such as recruitment, support for students working with faculty members, professional development, travel and research.
- The Prakash Chand Kochhar Graduate Support Endowment provides support to graduate students in the departments of Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science for activities such as research, travel, and conference attendance.
Following Anil Kochhar’s surprise announcement, the college told Axios it was calculating the total value of the gift and would work out the details with campus offices.
