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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline JULY 23, 2021 | The Indian Eye 24

ambassador Sandhu visits Dalip Singh Saund

Post Office in California

The post office was named after Saund following the then

President George Bush signing a bill in this regard into law on July 21, 2005

Our Bureau
Washington, DC

ndia’s ambassador to the
US Taranjit Singh Sandhu
Ivisited Dalip Singh Saund
Post Office, named after the
first Indian-American lawmak-
er, during his recent visit to Cal-
ifornia, according to a report by
PTI. This is probably the first
time that an Indian ambassador
has visited the post office named
after Saund, who was elected to Saund was the first Asian to get
the House of Representatives elected to the US House of Repre-
thrice from 1956 to 1962. sentatives in 1956
Born in Chhajulwadi (now
Chhajjalwaddi) in Amritsar dis- the Independence Day weekend.
trict of undivided Punjab in a Ambassador Sandhu at the building named after Dalip Singh Saund Honor to Mr. Saund is a matter
Sikh family, Saund received his of special pride for Sikh s in the
bachelor’s degree in mathemat- resources committee on veter- U.S. House of Representatives U.S. His life, struggle and success
ics from the University of Pun- ans affairs select committee on who represented California. continue to inspire the Ameri-
jab in 1919. He immigrated to the climate crisis. “The ‘Dalip Singh Saund can Sikh s to work hard to create
the United States to study agri- Sandhu visited Los Ange- Post Office Building’ will hon- a place of respect and admira-
culture at the University of Cal- les and San Diego. He had en- or an American who followed tion for their community. He is
ifornia, Berkeley. While at the gagements with the community, his dream to the United States, not only a symbol of hope and
university, he obtained a mas- members of the US Congress broke barriers, and served as a inspiration for all South Asians,
ter’s degree and a PhD, both in and at the University of Cali- representative of the people,” but he is the most loved and re-
mathematics. fornia. He interacted with the Congressman Darrell Issa who membered leader in California,”
The post office was named Indian community leaders on- authored, H.R. 120, the legisla- Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman
after him after the then Presi- board the historic Star of India tion honoring Rep. Saund had of the Washington based Sikh
dent George Bush signed a bill ship in the Maritime Museum of said in 2005. “This Act of Con- Council on Religion and Edu-
in this regard into law on July 21, San Diego. Built in 1863, Star of gress will preserve Congressman cation, had said in 2005, accord-
2005. During his visit to Califor- India is the world’s oldest active Saund’s legacy and honors the ing to Sikh Pioneers website.
nia last week, Sandhu interacted sailing ship. success of all immigrants from In- In 1949, he and other Indi-
with the Indian American com- In his remarks, the ambassa- dia and their accomplishments.” ans finally earned the right to
munity leaders. dor said the US has come out in Born in the village of Ch- become U.S. citizens. In 1952,
He also held meetings with an overwhelming manner to of- hajulwadi in India ‘s Punjab Saund was elected and served
top US lawmakers from the re- fer support to India during the province in 1899, Dalip Saund for four years as justice of the
gion, including Scott Peters, who Covid-19 crisis. He also praised came to the United States in peace in Westmorland, Califor-
serves on the house committee the role of the Indian diaspora 1920 to study at the University nia. Dalip Saund made history
on energy and commerce, com- during this difficult time. of California, Berkeley, where in 1956 when he became the first
mittee on small business; Dar- In 2005, the US Senate had he earned a doctorate in math- Asian elected to Congress. Dalip
rell Issa, who is a member of unanimously voted to honor ematics. For nearly 30 years he Saund was elected to the House
the house committee on foreign former Riverside and Imperi- was a successful farmer in Im- of Representatives and repre-
affairs - Subcommittee on the al County Congressman Dalip perial Valley. During this time, sented the 29th congressional
Middle East and North Africa Singh Saund by naming the US Saund began fighting discrimi- district during the Eighty-fifth
and subcommittee on terror- Post Office at 30777 Rancho Cal- natory laws against Indians. and the two succeeding Con-
ism, nonproliferation, and trade; ifornia Road in Temecula, Cali- “We thank the U.S. Senate gresses. Saund’s political career
and Mike Levin, member of the fornia, in his honor. Saund was and Congress for honoring the was cut short when he suffered
Hispanic and progressive caucus the first Asian American and first true hero of America. This is a a stroke while campaigning for a
and house committee on natural Indian American member of the great gift to the community on fourth term.

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