M a y 2 7 t h - Punjabi American Heritage Society

M a y 2 7 t h 2 0 0 7 yuba-Sutter FairgroundS

442 Franklin ave., yuba City • 11aM-SunSet

13th

annual

www.punjabiamericanheritagesociety.org

over 50 boothSArts and Crafts / Clothing / Children’s Games/ Music / Movies

Punjabi Cuisine/ Mehndi Jewelry and much, much more!

PerForManCeS Sukhshinder Shinda from the UK, Internationally acclaimed Pammi

Bai from Punjab. / Top U.S. and Canadian Bhangra/Gidha TeamsEthnic Dancers and Singers/Comedy skits ...

doCuMentarieS Divided We Fall

Punjabi American Festival: A celebration of culture, food, fun and heritage

Sarb JohlPAHS President, 2007

The Punjabi American Heritage Society (PAHS) is an organization of local volunteers working to promote a greater understanding of the Punjabi culture amongst new generations of Punjabi-Americans and members of the communities where we live. As the organization hosts the 13th Annual Punjabi-American Festival this Memorial Day weekend, it’s an opportunity to reflect upon the opportunities and freedoms that our families sought here in America and those that men and women in our armed forces continue to fight to protect. We hope you will join us at the 2007 Punjabi-American Festival, where we’ll highlight the beautiful heritage of Punjabis through music and dance.

Come experience the colorful clothing of the Punjabi people, learn about our history through our historical displays, taste exotic Punjabi cuisine and see some of our most popular Punjabi recording artists on stage. We’re pleased to provide a showing of the critically acclaimed documentary “Divided We Fall”. Allow more than 300 Punjabi-American students from schools throughout California to wow you with their performances of traditional Punjabi songs and folk dances. And, dance to the energizing sounds of the “Dhol” a traditional drum-like percussion instrument. Since the start of this annual event, PAHS members, festival volunteers, performers and event vendors have worked hard each year to put on this extraordinary celebration of the Punjabi culture. Our aim is to bring about understanding amongst all people — and to make Punjabi children aware of their culture and roots. We are especially grateful to all of the sponsors for supporting this festival. It’s the support of our vendors and sponsors that allows us

to share the Punjabi culture with everyone in the Yuba-Sutter community.PAHS members continue work throughout the year to bridge the gap between different cultures in our community. Other efforts include work with the Sutter County Memorial Museum to develop an exhibit highlighting the contributions of Punjabi immigrants. We invite you to learn more about the Punjabi culture and hope to see you on Sunday, May 27th at the festival. We are sure you will find our festival educational, as well as, entertaining. Sarb Johl

Some members of the 2007 Punjabi American Society. Photo by Charan Kang.

First MuseuM to Honor Pioneer Punjabis in usa is

CoMing soon! One of the major goals of the Punjabi American Heritage

Society is to promote friendship and understanding amongst all people. In an effort to expand this goal, the Punjabi American

Heritage Society, in partnership with the Sutter County Community Museum, is nearing completion of a permanent

exhibit that will showcase the story of migration of the Punjabi Americans to the United States over the last century. This exhibit

will provide a wealth of information in an effort to educate the public at large. It will also include the contributions of Punjabi

Americans to mainstream society, culture, faith, and heritage. It is our hope that the exhibit will serve as a source of information to students, teachers and any other visitor to the museum. In order to accomplish our goal of completing this exhibit, we are in need

of input, support, and funding. To learn more please download our sponsorship brochure at www.punjabiamericansociety.org

More details about Pioneer Punjabi Museum on page 8.

Becoming American

� — 13th Annual Punjabi American Festival 2007

Traditional Sikh headgear and baseball caps turned sideways. Customary fried potatoes and hot dogs. Bhangra and Bluetooth. Both the “Punjabi” and the “American” in the Punjabi American Festival were well represented at the Sunday event. Take the “bobbling desis” on sale at one of the festival booths. You know that bobblehead doll of a famous baseball player on your desk or car dashboard? Well, that’s what these are, except the wobbly caricatures depict prominent cultural figures in India. For about $10, you can get a figurine of Ghandi, or a miniature Irfan Pathan, of India’s national

Punjabi aMeriCan Festival in YC is Cultural MixThis article appeared in the Appeal-Democrat just after the 2006 Punjabi-American Festival. We were granted permission to reprint it here. We thought the reporter explained it best — when describing the merging of tradition and contemporary — youth and elders. Article by: Daniel Thigpen

cricket team fame, for example. The dolls are the brainchild of San Francisco resident Sunny Singh, who said he got the idea from the popular American bobbleheads. “Nobody’s done it before,” he said. “It’s kind of a niche market.” As many as 12,000 people packed the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba City for the daylong festival, organizers said. People came from as far as Canada and New Jersey to visit the city that boasts one of Northern California’s largest East Indian populations. The festival Is sponsored by the Punjabi American Heritage Society, a local nonprofit organization formed in 1993 that

promotes Punjabi culture. Also part of the group’s mission is to connect American-born Punjabi youths with their cultural roots. Hence the merging of traditional Punjabi culture - folk dances and music, ornate jewelry and colorful clothing - and American familiarities - booths from Comcast and Mountain Mike’s Pizza. “We want to bridge the gap in the community,” said Tejinder S. Ghuman, one of the founding members of the Punjabi American Heritage Society. “And we want to keep the new generation in touch with their culture and heritage.”

wHere and How to PurCHase tiCkets to tHe FestivalBuy Mela Tickets online at www.punjabiamericanheritagesociety.org LAST DAY TO BUY ONLINE: May 26th, 8pm PST. No refunds! Note: We will have your tickets at the will-call entrance at the fairgrounds. Please bring a valid ID of person who purchased the ticket(s) and print out of your receipt. To purchase ticket(s) please click on the link below:13th Punjabi American Festival Tickets are also available at these stores: New Delhi Palace, Bombay Video, Bollywood Video and LA Merchandise at Yuba City. Price $10 presale and $15 at the door. Presale will close on evening of May 26th, 2007

Featured doCuMentarY at tHe Festival

divided we Fall Driven to action by the murder of a turbaned man in her community, a college student drives across America in the aftermath of 9/11 to discover stories that did not make the evening news. From the still-shocked streets of Ground Zero to the desert towns of the American West, Valarie Kaur’s inspiring journey uncovers remarkable stories of hate violence, fear, and unspeakable loss – until she finds the heart of America halfway around the world in the words of widow. Five years in the making, Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath deftly explores race, religion, and what it means to be American in times of national crisis. Divided We Fall is now on national tour. It has screened at more than 40 campuses and communities in North America since September and was recently featured on BBC and NPR. The film has generated a groundswell of support, including official commendation by the State of California. The film’s inspiring story opens up a space for honest storytelling among our audiences, followed by deep dialogue about the community and country we live in and can envision. Tune in to CNN on Tuesday, May 15, at 8pm Eastern time for Paula Zahn’s interview with the filmmakers.

valarie kaurCreator, Writer, ProducerA third-generation Sikh American born and raised in Clovis, California, Valarie is a writer, filmmaker, and lecturer in religion and ethics. As a Harvard Presidential Scholar, she recently received her masters in theological studies at Harvard Divinity School.

Valarie began the journey to create Divided We Fall as an undergraduate at Stanford University, where she earned bachelor’s degrees in religious studies and international relations. She also taught courses on philosophy, religion, and created the school’s first-ever course in Sikh studies. Her honors at Stanford included the Howard Garfield Award in Religion, the Haas School Public Service Scholar, the Asian American Leadership Award, the Beinecke Scholarship, and selection as graduation speaker for her class. She won Stanford’s Golden Medal for her honors thesis on post-9/11 America, which eventually became Divided We Fall.

13th Annual Punjabi American Festival 2007 — �

sikH soldiers in world wars

Sikh soldiers of the 8th Army with local boys in San Felice.

continued on page 9

This article is an excerpt from a paper written by Vicky Singh Special thanks to Amandeep Singh Madra and Parmjit Singh, the authors of Warrior Saints: Three Centuries of the Sikh Military Tradition.

Sikhs primarily come from the Punjab, a province of Northern India. Sikhs are one of the most visible minorities. With his beard and turban, a Sikh can be identified in any crowd. Still they are perhaps the least understood as a people. Not many people know about the beliefs, practices and ethics of the Sikhs, and still fewer will understand their significance. Being a Sikh, it gives me a great pleasure to write about my people’s participation in the two World Wars.

warrior saints: tHree Centuries oF tHe sikH MilitarY tradition Over 138,000 Sikh soldiers fought in Belgium and France during World War I. More than a quarter of these soldiers became casualties. In the first battle of Ypres at Flanders in 1914 a platoon of Sikhs died fighting to the last man, who shot himself with his last cartridge rather that surrender. After the bloody battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915 the Sikh regiments had lost 80% of their men. The following is a letter sent home by a Sikh soldier: “Thousand and hundreds of thousands of soldiers have lost

their lives. If you go on the field of battle you will see corpses piled upon corpses, so that there is no place put hand or foot ...”

When the first World War broke out in 1914, there were six battalions of the Sikh Regiment forming part of the British Army. They were named as 14th Ferozepur Sikhs, 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 35th Sikhs, 36th Sikhs, 45th Sikhs and 47th Sikhs. Since Sikh soldiers were known for their bravery, the British employed all their battalions, except the 35th Sikhs, for fighting at such far-away places like Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and France. In all the battles in which they fought, they had to suffer heavy causalities. However, there was no wavering among them and they always stood like rock. The battle of Gallipoli was fought to capture Constantinople so as to reach the Turkish land, who had entered the war scene on the side of Germany. The 2nd Royal Fusiliers were finding it difficult to fight the Turks so the regiment of Sikhs was sent for their help. Although the allies did not succeed, the bravery shown by the Sikhs during this operation became a glorious chapter in the history of warfare. The task given to the Sikhs was highly dangerous. They were to capture two Turkish Trench lines named as J-11 and J-13. The brave soldiers of 14th regiment Sikhs were equally divided for the task on these two lines. The fierce battle took place on 3rd and 4th June, 1915, wherein the brave soldiers of 14th Sikhs lost 371 men. Sir Ian Hamilton was the General at that time. When Hamilton landed on April 25 at the Southern Tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula, he found that their strength as compared to that of the Turks was highly inferior. He also realized that the terrain greatly favored the

Turks, who were well dug-in. He had made the 14th Sikhs of the Indian Brigade a part of his expeditionary force. Sir Hamilton wrote to the Commander-in-Chief in India: “In spite of the tremendous losses there was not a sign of wavering all day. Not an inch of ground was given up and not a single straggler came back. The ends of the enemy’s trenches were found to be blocked with the bodies of Sikhs and of the enemy who died fighting at close quarters, and the glacis slope was thickly dotted with the bodies of these fine soldiers all lying on their faces as they fell in their steady advance on the enemy.” The history of Sikhs affords many instances of their value as soldiers, but it may be safely asserted that nothing finer than the grim valor and steady discipline displayed by them on the 4th June has ever been done by soldiers of the Khalsa. (Martial India F. Yeats-Brown, 1945.) The brave Sikhs, who earned a very high degree of appreciation included Sardar Udai Singh, who had saved the life of 2nd Lt R.A. Savory. The handsome Sikh was over 6 ft tall and had a fair beard and light green eyes. He was a wrestler from his very childhood and when in 1907 he went to take part in a wrestling match in a nearby village, he was selected by the British to join the 14th Sikhs. He was with the unit when Hamilton’s forces landed at the Gallipoli Peninsula. It is interesting to note that when after the war, he was offered a gallantry award, he pleaded that he should be allowed to go back to his village so that he could pursue his wrestling which was dear to his heart. Another prominent Sikh soldier associated with this battle was Bhola Singh. When Lt. Gen. Sir Reginald Savory came to India in 1968 to attend the

presentation of colors ceremony, Bhola Singh was also present on that occasion. Remembering the past, the General spoke about the close relationship between officers and his men. In his own words: “Only this morning (8th February 1968) Lance Naik Bhola Singh of the 14th Sikhs, who had been wounded in Gallipoli in 1915, took the trouble to come all the way from his home to call upon me, and after 52 years we saw each other again. I was deeply touched, not only at having the pleasure of seeing him again, but also at the thought of all the trouble he had taken to come and see me.” In August 1914, as the German Army advanced through France and Belgium, more Allied troops were desperately needed for the Western Front. The Indian Army, 161,000 strong, seemed one obvious source of trained men. In October, shortly after they arrived, they were introduced into some of the fiercest fighting around Ypres. Losses were heavy. The average Sikh battalion had 764 men when it landed; by early November Sikhs had only 385 men fit for duty. The fighting came as a shock to soldiers who were more used to colonial warfare.

One man wrote home “this is not war; it is the ending of the world“. The troops were taken out of the line and rested in early 1915, but were soon back in the trenches, and involved in the heaviest fighting. The Sikh Corps provided half the attacking force at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. Morale seemed to pick up in the spring of 1915, only to decline towards the end of the summer, when it became clear that an end to the war was not in sight. The Sikhs again took heavy losses at the Battle of Loos in September. The two Indian infantry divisions were withdrawn from France in December 1915, and sent to Mesopotamia. They were moved because their morale was fragile, and it was thought unwise to expose them to another winter on the Western Front. When behind the lines, on leave, or recovering in hospital, the soldiers had plenty of opportunity to see France and England. Did they embrace European culture or were they alienated by it? The wealth and beauty of European cities astonished the soldiers, and they admired Europeans for their honesty, generosity, and education. Some men wondered why India


Festival CommitteeSupporters & Friends

Punjabi-American Heritage Society MembersMr. Kuldip S. Atwal and Mrs. Narinder Atwal

Mr. Bhajan S. Aujla and Mrs. Ravie Aujla Dr. Narinder S. Bajwa and Mrs. Harjit Bajwa

Mr. Surinder and Mrs. Suky BainsMr. Harnek S. Banga and Dr. Rupinder Banga

Dr. Yash Gagan Brar and Mrs. Harpal BrarMr. Hitpal Deol and Mrs. Davinder Deol

Mr. Hardeep Dhadli and Mrs. Jaswinder DhadliDr. Rajpreet S. Dhesi and Mrs. Anita Dhesi

Mr. Amrik S. Dhugga and Mrs. Gurdish DhuggaDr. Paramjit Everest and Mrs. Surinder Everest

Dr. T.S. Ghuman and Mrs. Matlesh GhumanMr. Kulwant S. Johl and Mrs. Jaspal JohlMr. Sarbjit Singh and Mrs. Prabhjot JohlDr. Jasbir S. Kang and Mrs. Sukhjit Kang

Mr. Jasjit S. Kang and Mrs. Sandeep KangMrs. Siri Pritam Kaur Khalsa

Mr. Tejinder S. Maan and Mrs. Maninder MaanMr. Amarjit S. Rai and Rani Rai

Mr. Harjit Singh and Paramjit KaurDr. Narinder Singh and Mrs. Hardeep Kaur Singh

Mr. and Mrs. Satnam Tatla

2007 Executive BoardPresident: Sarbjit Singh Johl

Vice President: Hardeep Singh DhadliSecretary: Hardeep Kaur SinghAsst. Sectary Prabjot Kaur Johl

Treasurer: Kulwant S. JohlPast President: Dr. Rajpreet Dhesi

Honorary MembersMr. Lakhbir Singh Bhella

Mr. and Mrs. Baljit BoparaiMr. Surjit Singh and Mrs. Sarabjit Kaur Boparai

Dr. Gurpreet DhuggaMr. and Mrs. Maninder S. Gurcha

Mr. and Mrs. Ranjit JohlDr. Gulzar Singh Johl

Mr. Amarjit Singh DulaiMr. and Mrs. Jaswinder Lal Banga

Friends of The Society Navjit Singh Ghuman • Rupaul Singh Ghuman • Asha Sharma

Gurjatinder S. Randhawa • Baljit Lachhar • J.R. Thiara • JashPaul S. RaiDr. Lakhwinder Singh Randhawa • Dr. Devinderjit and Michelle Singh

live PerForManCe bY FaMous reCording artists

This year’s festival will highlight performances by internationally acclaimed artists, singers Sukhshiner Shinda who will be performing for the first time in the USA with

his band and Pammi Bai from Punjab. Both will perform on the main stage.

Festival HigHligHts inClude:• Top U.S. and Canadian Bhangra/Gidha Teams• Ethnic folk dances• Comedy Skits

over 50 bootHs oF Festival vendors Feature:Arts & CraftsTraditional ClothingChildren’s GamesPunjabi CuisineMehndi JewlryHenna Tatoosand more

Get tickets for the festival online at: www.punjabiamericanheritagesociety.org or at local Punjabi/Indian stores

SPECIAL DOCUMENTAR PRESENTATIONdivided we Fall(ShOwINg 1 & 3:30PM) When a turbaned Sikh American man is brutally murdered in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, a college student journeys across America to discover who counts as “one of us.” Weaving expert analysis into a personal journey, the film confronts the forces dividing a nation.

SPECIAL ShOwINg

Portraits oF sikHs in HistorY (ShOwINg AT 4PM)

Master of Ceremonies: Asha Sharma, Devinder Deal & Sukhi Bains


PHotos FroM tHe 2006 Punjabi-aMeriCan Festival


Chicken Curry5 Tbsp. vegetable oil3/4 tsp. whole cumin seeds1 inch (2.5 cm) stick of cinnamon2 bay leaves1/4 tsp. whole peppercorns2 medium onions, peeled and

minced2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 inch (2.5 cm) cube of fresh ginger, peeled and minced

1 medium tomato, peeled and finely chopped

1-1/2 lb. chicken pieces, skinned1 tsp. salt1-1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper1/2 tsp. garam masala

Heat oil in a large, wide pot over a medium-high flame. When hot, put in the cumin seeds, cinnamon, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Stir once and then put in the tomatoes, chicken, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir to mix and bring to a boil. Cover tightly, turn heat to low and simmer for 25 minutes or until chicken is tender. Stir a few times during the cooking period. Remove cover and turn up heat ot medium. Sprinkle in the garam masala and cook, stirring gently for about 5 minutes in order to reduce the liquid.

Note: The whole spices in this dish should be eaten.Yield: 6 servings.

Nutritive value (per serving):Calories Protein Sodium Potassium Calcium Phosphorous237 10.7 gm 296 mg 220 mg 26 mg 113 mg

BhangraisalivelyformoffolkmusicanddancethatoriginatesfromPunjab.PeopletraditionallyperformedBhangrawhencelebratingtheharvest.DuringBhangra,peoplesingPunjabiBoliyaanlyrics,atleastonepersonplaysthethedholdrum,andotherpeoplemayplaytheflute,dholakdrum,orothermusicalinstruments.WhileBhangrabeganasapartofharvestfestivalcelebrations,iteventuallybecameapartofsuchdiverseoccasionsasweddingsandNewYearcelebrations.Moreover,duringthelastthirtyyears,Bhangrahasenjoyedasurgeinpopularityworldwide,bothintraditionalformandasafusionwithgenressuchaship-hop,house,andreggae.AsBhangracontinuestomoveintomainstreamculture,anunderstandingofitshistoryandtraditionhelpstoappreciateit. ManypeoplebelievethatBhangraoriginatedinthe1400s,however,itmaybeevenolder.PrimarilymenperformedBhangra,whiletheladiesperformedtheirownfierce,yetelegant,dancecalledGiddha.Themenworetheturbin,lungi(longclothwrappedaroundthewaist),andkurta(traditionalIndianshirt),whilethewomen,whenperformingGiddha,worethesalvarkameez(alongcolorfulshirtaccompaniedwithabaggystylebottompiece)accompaniedbytheirbrightcoloredduppattas(clothwrappedaroundtheneck).

Nowadays,becauseofPunjabiinfluenceworldwide,peopleperformBhangrainallpartsoftheworldatoccasionssuchasweddings,receptions,andparties.BhangrahasevolvedfromadanceandmusiconlyperformedinthePunjabregion,toapopularstyleofmusicanddancethatpeopleperformthroughoutSouthAsiaandmanypartsoftheworld. Bhangrasingershailfrommanypartsoftheworld.ManypopularartistsfromSouthAsiainclude:LateSurjitBindrakhia,SurinderShinda,ManmohanWarris,A.S.Kang,JagmohanKaur,HansRajHans,KuldipManak,GurdassMann,RanjitMani,SardoolSikander,DalerMehndi,SarabjeetCheema,

HarbhajanMann,andAmarArshi. IntheWest,therearemanypopularartists.FromUnitedStatesandCanada,thereareartistssuchasSangeetGroupofCalifornia,JazzyBains,andBhindaJatt.FromEngland,thereareDCS,MalkitSingh,B21,SafriBoyz,andDippa. Bhangraistrulybecomingmorepopularworldwideandpeopleofnon-PunjabibackgroundarelisteningtoandperformingBhangra.UniversitiesandotherorganizationsareholdingannualBhangradancecompetitionsinmanyofthemaincitiesoftheUnitedStates,Canada,andEngland.Atthesecompetitions,youngPunjabis,peopleofdifferent

SouthAsianbackground,andpeoplewithnoSouthAsianbackgroundcompete.Itisevidentthateveryyear

Bhangrabecomesmorepopularandknownamongmanydifferenttypesofpeopleworldwide.

all about bHangra MusiC


beCoMing aMeriCan exHibit at CoMMunitY MeMorial MuseuM

artists rendering oF tHe Punjabi MuseuM exHibit. tHe exHibit will oPen winter 2007.By Davinder K. Deol

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I write this piece on a major project we have embarked upon. The goal of the Punjabi American Heritage Society is two-fold: To promote friendship and understanding amongst all people and; To pass down Punjabi culture and heritage to our next generation. Through a collaborative venture, the Punjabi American Heritage Society, in partnership with the Sutter Community Museum, is currently in the process of planning/creating a permanent exhibit to showcase the story of migration of the South Asian Americans to the United States of America over the last century. It is our hope that through this exhibit we will be able to provide a wealth of information in an effort to educate the public at large as well as carry on the story

of the early immigrants to this area. The exhibit will also include the contributions of Punjabi Americans to mainstream society, economy, culture, faith, and heritage. In addition to the exhibit, the second phase of this project includes the publishing of a book entitled, “Becoming American”. In order to put together a comprehensive and professional book, the Society has enlisted the services of Lea Terhune. Ms. Terhune is originally from California but has lived in New Delhi for 20 years. Among other qualifications her resume includes: News producer for CNN and editor of Span Magazine in India. Becoming American will tell the story of the migration experience and include a summary of the museum exhibit. A second book (special/limited edition) will contain a synopsis of the main book, highlight

the museum exhibit and acknowledge donors/sponsors without whom this project not be possible. The main purpose of this exhibit and book is to create better understanding and awareness in an effort to build bridges with fellow Americans. A project of this magnitude requires detailed planning and organization and substantial funds. It is with the commitment of dedicated Museum committee members: Dr. Jasbir S. Kang, Sarbjit Johl, Hitpal Deol, Davinder Deol, Kulwant Johl, and Ted Sibia PhD along with assistance from Kam Takhar, Gurmeet Sidhu and guidance from Steve Perry, Julie Stark, Sharyl Simmons and Prof. Jane Singh that this project is nearing fruition. Four major fundraisers were held (two in Yuba City and one each in Granite Bay and San Jose) and the interest/support/generosity has been overwhelming. A power

point presentation by Dr. Kang, showcasing the history of South Asian Pioneer migration to the USA dating back to the early 1890’s and the story of pioneers’ struggles/challenges in achieving American Citizenship rights as well as their contributions to the freedom of India from British Imperialism was shared with the members of the audience. Major contributions of Punjabi Americans to American society were also highlighted. The museum committee has created a detailed plan for the exhibit (content outline/artifacts…) and has enlisted the services of S2 Associates Inc. for the design and implementation of the plan. Design work is in the final stage and the goal is to complete the project by the end of this year. In appreciation of our sponsors/donors, an informative event was held to inform donors about the progress made towards

the completion of this project. Many of us are descendents of an early immigrant who came to America in search of and achieved the AMERICAN DREAM. Many of the privileges afforded to immigrants today are a result of these early pioneers’ experiences and struggles. A quote from a college textbook reads: “We all have a cause to be proud of our country’s history, shaped by the pioneering spirit of our forefathers…”. That ‘cause’ is this humble effort of the Punjabi American Museum Committee to assure that the stories of the those pioneers from India will not be lost or forgotten but live on for years to come. Our Sincere gratitude to the generous sponsors and donors of the Museum Project, we will list their names in next years publication.


seemed so poor in comparison. The soldiers’ attitudes to Europe were not, however, uniformly admiring. Several men commented that Europeans lacked spirituality, while one man suggested that India was more beautiful than Europe, because India’s beauty was “clothed in modesty”. Several men praised the education of European women, and gave instructions for their own daughters to be taught to read. Others considered that European women were “shameless”, because they mingled so freely with men. Some soldiers had love affairs with British and French women. In 1917, one Sikh trooper even married a French woman (the news dismayed his family, so he told them that he had married the woman only because the King had personally ordered him to do so).

The Sikh Army fought in every major operation during World War I. Letters home from soldiers on the Western Front offer extraordinary insight into their feelings about the conflict and impressions of European culture. In the last two world wars 83,005 Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded. They

died or were wounded for the freedom of Britain and the world and during shell fire, with no other protection but his turban, a symbol of the Sikh faith. FULL STORY, CREDITS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY can be found online atpunjabiamericanheritagesociety.org

sikH soldiers in world warsContinued FroM Pg. 4

A Sikh Soldier removes a Nazi Flag.

ApnaPunjabTVpromotesPunjabicultureteachingsoftheSikhGurus,viewsofdifferentpeopleregardlessoftheirreligionandlocaleventsincluding:TheAnnual

SikhParadeandtheAnnualPunjabiMela.ApnaPunjabisproducedbythePunjabi-AmericanSocietyandhas

beenairinglocallysincemarchof1993.

If you miss going to the Festival you can watch it on

Apna Punjab TVThislocal-originationtelevisionstationairsevery

Sunday from 8-9pm on Channel 18Hosted by Jasjit S. Kang

Portraits oF sikHs in HistorY A Documentary in Progress Shown at 3PM at the Festival

This provocative new series focusing on pioneers will begin with a look at the life and contributions of Dalip Singh Saund, the man who triumphed against tough odds. He not only tamed the land he farmed but won the hearts of his fellow Americans. He believed in the democratic process and had great faith that it would allow him to succeed in America, regardless of the obvious discrimination he faced. This program is already in production. Saund has been widely embraced by the larger South Asian community because he was the first US Congressman from India. However, the Sikh/Panjabi community is not as aware of his triumph in America. This one-hour biography traces his humble beginnings in Amritsar, Punjab to Riverside, California. His story is remarkable and particularly poignant for Sikhs to remember and gain strength from, particularly in our Post 9/11 environment. He achieved widespread respect and recognition as a man of color;

during a time when America was still just beginning to grapple with its own institutionalized racism. This first installment in the series will work towards re-appropriating Saund to his Sikh/Panjabi roots. The program will focus on Saund’s achievements and life story while highlighting the strength he gained from his Sikh upbringing. His Sikh parents who

lived a rural existence instilled the fighting spirit within him. He, like so many Sikh/Panjabi immigrants today, came with no more than pennies in his pocket and created a life of valor, integrity and humility. While he chose not to keep his outward Sikh identity, his Sikh past cannot be ignored or forgotten. It is those ideals that he lived and allowed him to achieve such groundbreaking success.

Dalip Singh Saund (Top to Bottom): With President Kennedy and Johnson. Saund as U.S. Congressman, Saund as a younger man with traditional Sikh Turban.

enjoY aFabulousline-uP oF

Punjabi MusiCans and loCal

talent at tHe

Festival!

——On Memorial Day, let us remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Let us take time to remember the millions of soldiers who have been wounded in

the line of duty. And let us remember our soldiers currently fighting in the War on Terror, and applaud their service.


special Thanks to our grand sponsorZee tv usa, inC. Starting its operations on 15th July 1998, Zee TV USA, Inc., has today become a platform South Asian Diaspora in the USA identifies with. The subscriber base today spans all the 51 states including Alaska and Hawaii. Growing at an astronomical rate every month even today, Zee has the largest base of paying subscribers among minority television offerings excluding Hispanic television channels. With a bouquet of four channels namely Zee TV, Zee Cinema, Zee Gujarati and Alpha ETC Punjabi in the Americas, Zee is forging ahead to bring the best in South Asian Television Programming to

the South Asians in this part to f the world. In its 8 years of operations, Zee reaches over 400,000 households and is present on Dish Network and every large cable system in the country. Zee TV is available on Comcast Cable in Yuba City, Stockton and Fresno areas. Comcast has been a partner of Zee since 2000 and offers great service, products and value addition to its South Asian customers. Comcast and Zee made it possible to bring entertainment and news from the Indian subcontinent to the South Asians in Yuba City, Stockton and Fresno areas. global PresenCe Zee TV over the years has reached generic dimensions for the South Asian Diaspora across the world. It is the first brand that comes to one’s mind when we think of South Asian TV entertainment. Spanning five

continents, Zee reaches out to more than 350 million viewers in more than 120 countries. The South Asian Diaspora is spread across the length and breadth of the world and is of relevance in most countries, both financially and culturally. Zee was also the first network to make a foray into language programming for the North Indian region, with launch of its regional channels. a riCH & HeadY bouquet Zee TV’s leadership is based on the carefully organized product mix, which caters to the family across the board. A general entertainment channel which includes soaps, sitcoms, thrillers, news and movies among other programming genres, this channel is built to appeal to the whole family. The day begins with the religious programming for the ones with the religious orientation.

GURBANI is relayed from the GOLDEN TEMLPLE IN Amritsar, India daily; the afternoons are devoted to homemakers with programs on cookery, fashion and homemaking. The evenings attract the largest audience and thus Zee brings to them a comprehensive mix of varied programming genres targeted at the whole family. The prime time opens with a light-hearted film and music based programs like Sa Re Ga Ma Pa along with the game shows and sitcoms and steadily moves to the serious genres like thrillers and Soaps namely Kasamh Se, Saat Phere...Saloni Ka Safar etc. Other than this Zee TV has six bulletins of daily news downloaded every day from South Asia in 3 languages namely Hindi, Punjabi and Gujarati; and for the movie buffs, Zee TV brings 2 movies everyday giving it a full and rounded feel. Zee has one of the largest growing libraries

comprising of Hindi feature films and Hindi TV Software. The reserves in the library include 3,000 titles of Hindi Feature films and about 30,000 hours of programming. Continuous innovation As always, quest for higher viewer satisfaction is of paramount importance to Zee TV. Fostering creativity has been the mantra for this last year. This year, Zee’s upcoming programs again include some more innovation in terms of interactive shows, gripping soaps dealing with social issues, global events like the Zee Cine Awards and much more.

Keep watching Zee to keep informed and entertained!

Thank youPlatinumsponsor waMu Washington Mutual’s (WAMU) deep commitment to the community beagan in 1889 when it was founded in Seattle, Washington, to help residents rebuild theri homes and lives after a great fire s wept through the city. Since then, making the communities in which it dodes business better places to live and work has become a hallmark of WAMU.

vision, Mission & values

our Core values• Ethics of absolute fairness,

honesty, and integrity guide everything we do.

• Our actions match our words.• We balance the expectations

and earn the trust of our customers, employees, communities and investors.

• We offer our customers products and services which fit their needs and provide great value.

Caring• We ensure that every

human interaction is caring, courteous, and respectful.

• We expect leaders to make difficult decisions, and to carry them out in a way that allows all involved to maintain dignity.

• We value and respect diversity of background, thought, and style and know they are a competitive advantage.

• We speak candidly and listen openly.

HuMan• We are positive, energetic,

and committed to achieving our objectives and living our values.

• We celebrate our successes and learn from our failures.

• We keep our egos in check and maintain a sense of humor.

• We believe in the power of talented, committed individuals—working as a team—to make an extraordinary difference.

dYnaMiC• We are never satisfied with

the status quo and know that we must continually reinvent our organization and ourselves.

• We break down silos and bureaucracies in order to serve our customers efficiently as one company.

• We continuously drive operational excellence to innovate our products, processes and services.

driven• We are committed to

excellence and the achievement of superior long-term returns for our shareholders.

• We set high, measurable goals and hold ourselves accountable to achieve them.

• We recognize that addressing challenges head-on is a requirement for success.

• We benchmark from our

customers’ viewpoint and deliver what is most important to them.

• We look both within and outside our industry to learn.

our vision & Mission

vision: To be the nation’s leading retailer of financial services for consumers and small businesses.

Mission: To build strong, profitable relationships with a broad spectrum of consumers and businesses.

We will do this by delivering products and services that offer great value and friendly service, and by adhering to our core values of being fair, caring, human, dynamic, and driven.

10 — 13th Annual Punjabi American Festival 2007

tHe Punjabi-aMeriCan Heritage soCietY Honors tHese great individuals

Professor Baldev (Bob) Singh

Professor Baldev “Bob” Singh came the United States from India in 1954 and attended Yuba College. After a year at YC he transferred to the University of Oregon. In 1957 he earned a Masters Degree in International Relations. After receiving his Masters Degree he returned to India with the idea of staying permanently. While in India he married his wife Veena.’ In 1960 he returned to the United States and earned his teaching credential. Veena joined him in the states in 1961.

He taught in Modesto from 1962 to 1971 and eventually returned to Yuba College to teach. From 1971 through 1993 he taught in the Social Science Division at Yuba College. In 1993 Singh retired, but he continued teaching one or two classes for about 10 years as an adjunct Professor. Bob was a member of the Democratic Central Committee in Sutter County. And 1972, after only three months as a member, he was elected as a delegate. He was one of the first East Indians in the U.S. to be elected a delegate to the Democratic Presidential Nominating Convention. “This was quite an experience. I was teaching summer school and the convention was in Miami. My students were glued to the TV it was a great learning experience for them.” Said Singh. Soon after, Singh was appointed by the Sutter County Board of Supervisors to the Sutter County Housing Authority where he served as a commissioner for 18

years. He was elected four times. “I finally moved on because I believe it’s always good to have fresh perspectives and I figured 18 years was long enough.” said Singh. Soon after he retired from the Board of the Sutter County Housing Authority, Singh was appointed to the California Human Development Corporation as a member of the Board of Directors headquartered in Santa Rosa which covers most of No. Calif. I have been on the board for 6 or 7 years. This is my second year as a Chairman of the Board of Directors. Singh has served on various committees in Sutter County throughout his many years in the USA. He was appointed by the Governor to the Agricultural Fair Board and served for five years. He served on the Yuba College Foundation for 6 years — the last two years as a chairman board. Singh has slowed down just a little recently due to illness. “I am just recovering form Major open heart surgery – I almost died. It was a 9-hour-long surgery. So I don’t want to push myself. I’m

trying to cut down my activities. However, Singh still serves on the board of the Del Norte clinics. He’s been a member of the board for 6 years. “This year I am the Chairman of the Board of Directors. There are 15 or 16 clinics in 5 counties. The head office is located in Yuba City.” Singh is also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple. “My feeling has always been that if everyone of us will contribute to the communities we live in, the communities will be much richer. There will be greater harmony. This country has been wonderful to me and this is my way of returning the favor.” Singh’s daughter Yasmin is a UC Davis graduate with a degree in Toxicology and Pharmacology. She is a research scientist. His son Raj received his MBA from University of Pittsburgh. Raj is Vice President for Strategic Financial Planning at Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco. Bob’s wife Veena, three years ago retired from Barry School where she taught for many years.

Udham Singh Purewal

Udham Singh Purewal has lived in the Yuba-Sutter area for more than 50 years, farming prunes and peaches. He and his late brother Baktawar, donated the land for the Sikh Temple in Tierra Buena. Udham has been asked many times to be the President of the Temple, but instead, for many years, he chooses to humbly serve in the free community kitchen at the temple.

Michael J. Fahey, M.D., F.A.C.S

Beginning his solo surgical practice in the Yuba-Sutter area in 1992, Dr. Michael Fahey provides full service general, thoracic and peripheral vascular surgery, including laparscopic alternatives to traditional surgical methods. He pioneered the Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication for treatment of GERD in 1993. He and his office staff provide consultation, screening and complete arrangements for surgical services, including insurance billing and follow-up care. His offices are located in Yuba City at the Town Center

Fountain at the corner of Plumas and B Streets. Dr. Fahey graduated from Stanford University in Palo Alto with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. He completed his medical education at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He was then awarded an internship and residency in General Surgery at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco. In 1988, Dr. Fahey and his family moved to Ft. Knox, KY whre he served as Chief of General Surgery at Ireland Army Community Hospital. During

his military service, Major Fahey received the Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon, Army achievement Medal and Meritorious Service Medal. Dr. Fahey is board certified by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). He serves regularly as an Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructor, Physician’s Assistant Supervisor and State Certified X-ray Supervisor and Operator. He is a member in good standing of the AMA and Association of Military Surgeons. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Fahey served as Chief of Staff of Fremont and Rideout Hospitals and is currently Chief of Surgery. He is an active staff member at both Fremont Medical Center and Rideout Memorial Hospitals, Feather River Surgery Center and Sutter North Surgery Center. The Punjabi American Heritage Society honors Dr. Fahey for his service to indigent patients. Even with a very successful practice, Dr. Fahey still accepts Medi-Cal patients. He also donates to many community causes including the Punjabi American Festival.

13th Annual Punjabi American Festival 2007 — 11

Thank You Sponsorsgrand sPonsor

Zee TV USA/ComcastPlatinuM sPonsor

wells Fargo Bank

gold sPonsorSacramento Valley Farm Credit / gold Country Bank / western Union

Narinder & Lilla Badwal / wendy’s (Dulai & Johl Family) / Altima Contractor, Inc. / wal MartFast Choice Markets / Dunmore homes / Punjabi waves T.V. / Appeal-Democrat

Sukwinder S. Cheema, Natomas golf Center / KBTV global Television / Sierra gold Nurseries

silver sPonsorDr. Fahey /Jamba Juice / Sutter Community Bank / Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. / Jaswinder Lal Banga / Sangha Enterprises

Bonanza Inn / John Taylor Fertilizer / Silicon Dental-San Jose/ Rajinder S. gill / Beeler Tractor / Parmjit S. Johl & Sarbjit S. Johl / / Legoullon Insurance Agency / India Post / Sukhwinder Singh / Bank of America (Manjit Dhillon)

Little Ceasar’s Pizza / Fremont-Rideout health group / Sierra Injury & Sports Rehab / Sutter Bank of Commerce - Ted M. Singh / Circle R Irrigation / Bi County Irrigation / Dow Lewis Motors / Lakeview Petroleum / walgreens / Takhar

Development-Crowne Community / Mike Singh, Valley Development / Late, gurdawar Singh Dhillan Family

our sincere thanks to our many friends in the community, who, by their gracious donations of money and in-kind products or services, are helping to spread our message of understanding.

bronZe sPonsor

Friends

Yuba City FloristR & D foods

Save Mart Super MarketMoney gram

Sangeet Khazana

gurvinder S. Dosanjh & Palvinder S. Lally

Vratich & Sohal / QuiznoPacific Management

The Cookie TreeTaco BellFood Max

Yuba City ToyotaValley Truck & Tractor

Karen D. grovePizazz Party Rental

Mid Valley Title & Escrow Co.Century 21

Deatsch Insurance Agency, Inc.Butte Insurance Agency

T.S. Liquor & Food MartYuba City Pest Control

Butte Federal Credit UnionBel Air

Sutter North Medical

FoundationRiver Valley Bank

Miracle Auto PaintingJohn Miller

Mike Bohmann

Joginder S. Pardesi

M a y 2 7 t h - Punjabi American Heritage Society

Documents