Indian-origin man pays off student loans for 176 US graduates

Kochhar reportedly said the gift was made in memory of his father, ‘Prakash Chand Kochhar’, who came from India to Raleigh in 1946 to study textile manufacturing. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from NC State (North Carolina State) before starting his career in New York.

During his speech, Kochhar reportedly said his father arrived in America with ‘hope and determination’ and was warmly welcomed by the community. As per reports he added that education gave his father the chance to build a successful life and create a lasting family legacy.

The announcement created an emotional moment at the ceremony as students celebrated the unexpected financial support. Many graduates were seen cheering and applauding after hearing that their final-year education loans would be cleared, as per reports.

Around 176 students received bachelor’s degrees and 26 students earned master’s degrees from the college in 2026.

The ‘Wilson College of Textiles’ at NC State is one of the leading textile education and research institutes in the United States. The college is known for programs in textile engineering, fashion development, and textile technology.

Over the years, the Kochhar family has reportedly continued to support education through donations and scholarships. Since the death of Prakash Chand Kochhar in 1985, several scholarships have been created in his memory to help students achieve higher education goals.

Anil Kochhar is an Indian-American businessman and philanthropist known for supporting education and student welfare. He recently gained attention after announcing that he would pay off the final-year student loans of 176 graduates at North Carolina State University in memory of his father, Prakash Chand Kochhar.