tenth annual - punjabi american heritage … to all yuba-sutter residents to attend the 10th annual...

T E N T H A N N U A L

Sunday M ay 30th11: am to Sunset

Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds

2 Punjabi-AmericanFestival,2004 3Punjabi-AmericanFestival2004

Please join us at the 10th Annual Punjabi-American Festival

Punjabi-American Society Festival Organizers

On behalf of the

Punjabi American

Heritage Society,

I’d like to extend an

invitation to all Yuba-

Sutter residents to attend

the 10th Annual Punjabi

American Festival. The

Punjabi American Heritage

Society was founded in

1993 with the purpose of

promoting friendship and

understanding with other

communities and helping

our younger generation

connect with their roots.

To promote these goals,

among other events, the

Society has successfully

sponsored Educational

Youth Seminars, Essay

Contests, a weekly

television program, Teacher

Appreciation Programs,

and the annual Punjabi

American Festival. When

you attend the Festival you

will have an opportunity

to get a glimpse into the

rich culture of the Punjab.

From the mesmerizing folk

songs and music to the

rhythmic beat of the “dhol”

– a drum-like percussion

instrument that is sure to

make you tap your feet and

snap your fingers in tune

with the beat. For your

taste buds, exotic flavors

will be available

in the various

food booths.

Fabrics, jewelry

and books are

among the other

vendor booths

that are scheduled to be

at the Festival. Cultural

awareness in the form of

music, dance, clothing,

food and good time for

all is what is in store at

the 10th annual Punjabi

American Festival. We

hope you will join us there.

Hitpal Singh Deol, President

Punjabi American Heritage Society

Punjabi-AmericanFestival Committee

Volunteers & Friends

Dr. Narinder S. Bajwa and Mrs. Harjit Kaur BajwaMr. Surinder and Mrs. Suky Bains

Mr. Harnek S. Banga and Dr. Rupinder BangaMr. and Mrs. Jaswinder Banga

Dr. Rupinder Singh BrarDr. Yash Gagan Brar and Mrs. Harpal Kaur Brar

Mr. and Mrs. Rajinder ChohanMr. Hitpal Deol and Mrs. Davinder DeolMr. Hardeep and Mrs. Jaswinder DhadliDr. Rajpreet Dhesi and Mrs. Anita Dhesi

Dr. Paramjit Everest and Mrs. Surinder EverestDr. T.S. Ghuman and Mrs. Matlesh Ghuman

Dr. Karanbir Singh Grewal and Mrs. Pumeet GrewalMr. and Mrs. Ranjit Johl

Dr. Gulzar Singh JohlMr. Kulwant S. Johl and Mrs. Jaspal JohlMr. Sarbjit S. Johl and Mrs. Prabhjot Johl

Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang and Mrs. Sukhjit KangMr. Jasjit Kang and Mrs. Sandeep Kang

Mrs. Siri Pritam Kaur KhalsaMr. Tejinder Maan and Mrs. Maninder Kaur Maan

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

Mr. and Mrs. Satnam TatlaMr. Amarjit Singh Dulai

Mr. Lakhbir Singh BhellaMr. Amrik Singh and Gurdish Kaur Dhugga

Dr. and Mrs. Gurpreet Dhugga Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Baljit Boparai

Mr. Kuldip and Mrs. Nina AtwalNavjit Singh Ghuman

Rupaul Singh GhumanMrs. Linda Plummer-Smith

Asha SharmaGurjatinder S. Randhawa

Baljit LachharBaljit Singh & Bhupinder BoparaiMr. Harbhajan and Mrs. Ravi AujlaMr. Amarjit and Mrs. Resham RaiMr. Maninder and Rosie Garcha

Executive BoardPresident: Hitpal S. Deol

Vice President: Siri Pritam Kaur KhalsaSecretary: Gurdish Kaur Dhugga

Treasurer: Hardeep S.DhadliPast President: Kulwant Singh Johl

The Punjabi-American Heritage Society

Mission StatementFounded in March 1993,

the Society is a non-profit, non-political, secular organization.

The main objectives of the Society are:To promote understanding

and friendshipamong all residents of the

Yuba-Sutter area.To pass on our culture and

heritage to our youth.


MoviesExpo Hall During the Festival

Mistaken Identity: Sikh Experience After 9/11 (12pm & 3:45pm)

Punjabi Village (2:30pm)

Turbans 1:15pm & 5:00pmThe touching story of a Pioneer Sikh Family in Oregon

Manu Saluja, a New York-based por-trait artist, was attracted at a young age to the works of great art. She studied drawing and painting with John F. Murray at the New York-based School of Visual Arts. The budding painter quickly displayed a talent for portrai-ture, and began receiving paid commissions before finishing her Bachelor’s in Fine Art in 1997. In 1997, she received the Rhodes Family Award for Outstand-ing Achievement in Illustration. Saluja was a finalist in The Artist’s Magazine’s 1999 portrait competition and is a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists. Some of her works will be displayed at the festival.

JazzyBBorn in Punjab and raised in Canada, Jazzy B has introduced fresh elements into the traditional bhangra music. Now based in London, this pop star is as popular with the Indian community in Can-ada, Great Britain, and North America as he is with Punjabi pop crazy in India. Jazzy B burst into the music scene with his innovative presentation at a time when bhangra got no more adventurous than sequins on a turban. Since his debut album Ghugian Da Jora in 1994, Jazzy has become one of the most well-known names in the Punjabi music world today. He has acquired the title “Original Folkstar” and “Canadian Sensa-tion.” His new album TERA ROOP adds to his success story. The title song from the blockbuster film “Shahud Udham Singh” has become a national anthem in the villages and cities across Indie. Alongside music producer Sukjinder Shinde, Jazzy B has un-earthed many a musical gem. He now returns to the stage at the 10th Annual Punjabi-American Festival, having been the main draw at the first festival.

Star Performers Appearing at the Punjabi-American Festival

Sukshinder ShindaWith over 200 album credits and countless hit songs to his name, Shinda has thrived in the music business for more than a decade. He has produced many worldwide smash-hit albums, worked with many renowned artists and has had his music featured on a number of Bollywood film sound-tracks. With this glorious portfolio Sukshinder Shinda, would be considered by many as one of the most talented and influential music directors to emerge from the UK’s Asian scene, he can proudly call himself ‘The Music Man’.

Ammtoje MannThis year we will honor this Producer/Director/Actor for his exemplary courage in bringing to life the movie Hawayein. It is based on the aftermath of Mrs. Gandhi’s assas-sination — riots in Delhi and other places. It depicts the victimization of the people of the Punjab. The film shows real life events of the atroci-ties suffered by the Punjabi youth and their families. Scars of history are

exposed in this movie. Ammtoje says that he wishes to show the pain that violence can cause — so that history does not repeat itself in other parts of India.


This is probably the most famous of Indian dishes. Marinate the chicken well and cook in an extremely hot oven for a clay oven-baked taste. If you want authentic "burnt" spots on the chicken, place the dish under a hot grill (broiler) for a few minutes after baking.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4-6)

3lb oven-ready chicken

8 fl. oz./ 1 cup natural (plain) yogurt,

beaten

4 tbsp tandoori masala paste

salt, to taste

6 tbsp ghee

salad leaves, to serve

lemon twist and onion slices,

to garnish.

1. Using a sharp knife or scissors, remove

the skin from the chicken and trim off

any excess fat. Using a fork, beat the

flesh at random.

2. Cut the chicken in half down the center

and through the breast. Cut each piece

in half again. Make a few deep gashes

diagonally into the flesh. Mix the yogurt

with the masala paste and salt. Spread

the chicken evenly with the yogurt

mixture, spreading some into the gashes.

Leave for at least 2 hours, but preferably

overnight.

3. Preheat the oven to maximum heat.

Place the chicken quarters on a wire rack

in a deep baking tray. Spread the chicken

with any excess marinade, reserve a little

for basting halfway through cooking

time.

4. Melt the ghee and pour over the

chicken to seal the surface. This

helps to keep the centre moist dur-

ing the roasting period. Cook in the

preheated oven for 10 minutes, then

remove, leaving the oven on.

5. Baste the chicken pieces with the

remaining marinade. Return to the

oven and switch off the heat. Leave

the chicken in the oven for about

15-20 minutes without opening the

door. Serve on a bed of salad leaves

and garnish with the lemon twist

and onion slices.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4-6)

14 fl.. oz... cans evaporated milk

3 egg whites, whisked until peaks form

12oz/3 cups icing (confectioners) sugar

1tsp ground cardomom

1 tbsp rose water

175 g/6oz/1.5 cups pistachios, chopped

1/2 cups sultanas (golden raisins)

3/4 cup flaked (slivered) almonds

3 tbsp glacé (candied) cherries, halved

1. Remove the labels from the cans

of evaporated milk and lay the cans

down into a pan with a tight-fitting

cover. Fill the pan with water to reach

three-quarters up the cans. Bring to

boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

When cool, remove and chill the cans

in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

2. Open the cans and empty the

milk into a large, chilled bowl. Whisk

until it doubles in quantity, then

fold in the whisked egg whites and

icing (confectioners) sugar.

3. Gently fold in the remaining

ingredients, seal the bowl with cling

film (plastic wrap) and leave in the

freezer for 1 hour.

4. Remove the ice cream from the

freezer and mix well with a fork.

Transfer to a serving container

and return to the freezer for a final

setting. Remove from the freezer 10

minutes before serving.

IndianIce Cream

PunjabiCuisine

Classic Tandoori ChickenKulfi-wallahs (ice cream vendors) have always made Kulfi, and continue to this day, without using modern freezers. Kulfi is packed into metal cones sealed with dough and then churned in clay pots until seet. Try this method — it works extremely well in an ordinary freezer.


Fun In The SunSunday, May 30, 2004, 11am - 8pm • Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds

On Sunday, May 30, 2004, the 10th Annual Punjabi-American Festival is expected to

draw well in excess of 10,000 people from the Yuba-Sutter region and from as far away

as San Francisco, Stockton, Canada and England. In addition to an array of traditional

Punjabi cuisine, you will find colorful demonstrations and informational exhibits,

Punjabi dancers, singers and entertainment at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba City.

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating our rich heritage and our efforts to bridge the gap

and reach out to our friends and neighbors in this wonderful community. Tickets are

$10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Buy tickets online at http://punjabilink.com/paf

Or buy them at the following outlets: LA Merchandise 822-0439:

Bombay Video 673-7150; Bollywood Music 673-5133;

New Delhi Palace 673-7994; Punjabi Fashions 755-3408

ExperienceBhangra Music

Dances

Shopping for Jewelry Books,CDs, Clothes

Photo Exhibits

Movies

Punjabi Food Tandoori Chicken, Samosas

Famous SingersJazzy Bains & Sukshinder Shinda

Actor & DirectorAmmtoje Mann of “Hawayien”

Movie

ArtistManu Saluja


Come to think of it, I am just

yards of fine muslin cloth in

a myriad of colors and, some-

times, designs. Yet when I

adorn the head of those who

wear me, I am the epitome

of grace, culture and honour.

Wars have been fought over

me, people have become

brothers when they exchange

me with another of my kin

— Maharaja Ranjit Singh

gained the Kohinoor diamond

in this fashion. I am a turban.

Now they want to ban me in

schools in France. But how can

they do it? So many men who

wore me died fighting for

France. I have been a crown

on the heads of historical

figures, and of those who are

not even footnotes of history.

I have made my presence felt

in the continents of Asia and

Africa for centuries. And if you

look back at civilizations, you’ll

find my mention in the Old

Testament and in Egyptian,

Turkish and Indian texts and

In passing, let me mention

that I was an item of formal

wear in the southern states,

where Iyers used silk cloth. In

Maharashtra, there was the

pheta and, of course, Raja-

sthan is well known for my

colorful cousins called pagari,

pencha, sela, or safa. Museums

in Udaipur and Jodhpur have

hundreds of styles on display.

What is my ideal length? Ac-

tually, it varies, based on the

area, style and the person. His-

torians will bear me out when

I tell you that Prince Salim, the

16 th -century Sultan of Tur-

key, wore 11 yards of malmal,

and other Muslim nobles fol-

lowed suit. Nowadays, it varies

from 5 to 8 yards. The Nihang

Sikhs wear turbans, which are

many times this size!

In Mughal India, when a

reign changed, the new Em-

peror evolved a style uniquely

his own, which was, of course,

widely followed. Just look at

how Emperors Babur, Hama-

yun, Akbar, Jahangir and

Shahjahan, and their succes-

sors changed the style.

For the Sikhs, I am what

Guru Gobind Singh ordered

his Khalsa to wear at all

times. However, because of

my distinctiveness, the Sikhs

have gone through various

trials and tribulations in the

last three centuries. They

were easily identified and

persecuted during the reign

of the Mughals and from

time to time thereafter, but

have remained steadfast in

their devotion to me and all

that I stand for. The slogan:

“Pagari sambhal oye Jatta ,”

by Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s

uncle became a clarion call

for independence from British

colonialism.

They have refused to take

me off, even if asked to do so

as a safety measure. Memo-

rably, in World War II, Sikh

soldiers who were fighting

for the British refused to wear

steel helmets, despite know-

ing that the causalities among

them would be higher if they

did so. When told by their offi-

cers that the cost of pensions

etc. accruing from their death

was too much for the British

Empire to bear, they unani-

art; in fact, almost everywhere

where civilization made an

impact. Why, even relief me-

dallions at Sanchi and Bhar-

hut stupas, dating back to 2nd

Century BC or earlier, feature

me.

The Egyptians called me

pjr , I am referred to as the

turban in Biblical texts, in

Persian I am called dastar and

in Arabic one of the words for

me is imamah. In Hindi I am

called pagree and in Punjabi

am referred to as both pagari

or dastar. Other terms for me

include murassa, khirki-dar,

Faruq Shahi, atpati, kuladar,

pechdar and Safawi , named

after the dynasty of the same

name in Iran.

I am a symbol of honour,

which is why if someone talks

of soiling a turban, it implies

being dishonored. In fact, a

great honour being conferred

upon someone by royalty is

dastar a fazilat. Today, I will

confine this narration to India

and, in particular, to the Sikhs.

Bans and turbans

A matter of honorThe French government’s move to ban the turban has triggered protests from Sikhs across the world. This is not the first time the turban has run into trouble. It has seen some trying times on foreign shores during its long and checkered history. It has stirred opposition, curiosity, ridicule and was even spurned in cultures unfamiliar with what it stood for. The turban has existed in India since time immemorial as a symbol of pride and honour. After 9/11, turbaned persons have been targeted by bigots in the US and Europe. Much like the enterprising Sikh, who ventures unafraid to distant lands, the turban too has endured. The turban tells its tale of travails and triumph in the words of Roopinder Singh .

Maharaja Bhupindra Singh standardized the Patiala-style turban.

A style favored in the Punjab that is now in Pakistan.

A British Indian Army, JCO in ceremonial regalia in the late 19th Century

Birmingham policemen are now turbaned too.

Story by Roopinder Singh (Courtesy: The Tribune) Sketches by R.M. Singh


mously agreed to forego any

pension if they got a head

injury. They still refused to

dispense with me. Nowadays,

the dispute is about crash

helmets for motorcyclists, and

the governments of Malaysia,

Singapore, Australia and the

UK have amended their laws

to make special allowance

for me.

Someone has documented

that during World Wars I and

II, 83,055 turbaned Sikh sol-

diers died and 1,09,045 were

wounded when

fighting under

the command

of the Allied

forces

Many Sikhs,

settled in the

UK following

World War II,

faced discrimi-

nation because

of me. In 1969,

however, the

Sikh bus company employees

in Wolverhampton, led by So-

han Singh Jolly, won the right

to wear turbans while on duty.

This marked the successful

culmination of a long-running

campaign.

Other skirmishes followed,

notably in Manchester, and

it was only in 1982 that the

House of Lords, Britain’s high-

est court, ruled that Sikhs are

a distinct ethnic group en-

titled to protection under the

Race Relations Act. Nowadays,

in the UK, turban-wearing

Sikhs can be seen in all walks

of life, including the police

and the army.

In the US, I was called all

kinds of names when Sikh

immigrants first touched the

shores of California at the end

of the 19th century. They were

derisively called “rag heads”

because of me. Turbaned

Bhagat Singh Thind served in

the US army during World War

I, but was denied American

citizenship because he was

“non-European White.” Now

many Sikhs wear me proudly,

many hold top jobs, but the

armed forces still discriminate

against me. I have faced prob-

lems because of ignorance

and bigotry after 9/11, but it

has always been a continuing

struggle to educate people

about what I stand for.

In Canada, I faced problems

during the early 1900s and, in

fact, the Sikhs were disfranchised

by British Colum-

bia in 1907, and

the Komagatu

Maru tragedy,

where 376 pas-

sengers of the

ship were not al-

lowed to disem-

bark at Vancou-

ver, followed in

1914. However,

Canada gave

voting rights to

these people in 1947 and things

changed.

In 1990, Baltej Singh Dhillon

proudly wore me and joined the

Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Some bigoted Canadians pro-

tested, but finally the ruling was

in my favour a few years later.

In Africa, turbaned Sikhs did

not face much problem, except

for dealing with curiosity, which

always happens. The same was

much the case in New Zealand

and Australia, except for one

time when some members of

the Australian Returned Ser-

vices League tried to have Sikhs

debarred from one of their clubs

because they refused to remove

their turbans on the premises of

the club. I understand that the

RSL objectors had to back down.

Anyway, so much for my being

discriminated against. Most of

the time I strike a distinctive

note, which attracts attention.

And many people are curious

about how I am tied. Well, there

are various ways, and indeed

many distinct styles have

evolved, expressing the individu-

ality of various persons as well

as the togetherness of various

groups.

The way I have been tied often

reflected the society of the time

and of course there was always

the sartorial element. A match-

ing turban, a contrasting one, a

bandhni turban with a splash of

colors, a lehariya turban in which

pattern makes waves, the African

turban with its flat folds. There

have been so many turbans, so

many ways in which the Sikhs

have tied them....

The patterns that the Sikhs

wear come primarily from the

Rajputs of Rajasthan, where

there are thousands of my cous-

ins. Since societal life is stratified

in that area, colors and patterns

represent specific castes or sub-

groups. The way they are tied is

also strictly laid down.

For the Sikhs, however, there

are no hard and fast rules,

though various social groups

and geographical areas such

as Malwa, Majha, Peshawar,

Pothohar and Afghanistan

have distinct styles. The Jats tie

me differently from the non-Jats.

The former, for example, do not

wear patterns, just plain ones.

As for the color, the elderly

wear white, which is also a

political color of the Congress

Party. The Akalis support royal

blue, electric blue and saffron.

Most Sikhs have at least half a

dozen colors, which they wear

to suit the occasion or the attire.

Princely states, however, had

distinctive colors of their own.

Black, however, became a color

of specific protest during the

British Raj after the tragic killings

of the Sikhs at Nankana Sahib,

the birthplace of Guru Nanak,

now in Pakistan, where the local

mahants , in connivance with the

British authorities, had killed a

large number of pilgrims.

In fact, Baba Kharak Singh, a

prominent leader of the time,

wore me in black. He was jailed

by the British from 1922 to 1927.

Hundreds of other Sikhs also

wore black at that time and

many were jailed, but remained

steadfast in their demand till the

British relented. In the troubled

decade of the 1980s, saffron

became a color

of discontent.

Though I am

overwhelm-

ingly worn by

men, women too

sport turbans,

especially those

belonging to the

Akhand Kirtani

Jatha of Bhai

Randhir Singh

and also American women

converts to Sikhism. They follow

the injunction made by Guru

Gobind Singh who asked Mai

Bhago to wear the kachera and

tie a turban. Though small in

Baba Kharak Singh was jailed for wearing a black turban.

The turban of kabuli Sikhs is influenced by the culture they live in.

number, these ladies do cut a

dashing figure.

When you talk of me, you

have to keep in mind the royal

house of Patiala, which evolved

the distinctive Patiala Shahi

turban in which a thumb is used

to create a depression near the

forehead. The Patiala turban was

standardized during the reign of

Maharaja Bhupendra Singh.

Urdu poet Faiz wrote a beauti-

ful couplet about me. Sari-khus-

rau se naazi-kaj kutahi chin bhi

jata hai/ Kutha-i-Khusaravi se bue

sultani nahai jati. While the turban

may be taken from the head of a

Sultan, the aroma of royalty will

not leave the turban.

I am rooted in history that

is inseparable from the spiri-

tual journey of the believer. This

reason alone is sufficient for me

not to be taken lightly or easily

dismissed, even though I have,

like the symbols that stem out of

other religions, become for many

followers more

an expression of

religiosity and cul-

tural values than

of spirituality.

I have to be

respected for

what I stand for,

and those who tie

me have to reflect

on that too, since

it is their conduct

that will give me the power to

stand for honour. “You judge a

man by his turban, gait and his

speech,” maintains an ancient

Persian saying. How true.

One of the pioneer Sikhs immigrants to Astoria, Oregon, USA, circa 1916

The turban worn by the President's Body-guard has an distinctive style.

Women belonging to the Akhand Kirtani Jatha wear turbans.


Gulzar Singh Bains ‘Bob’ Bakdev Singh

Naranjan Kaur

Satinder Davit Udham Singh Purewal Hari Singh Everest

PAHS Honors These Yuba City Pioneers Punjabis have lived in the Yuba-Sutter area for more than a century thriving in the atmosphere of freedom and opportunity that

exemplifies America. We talked to some of the pioneering spirits of the Punjabi community who have served as solid pillars of our

society. Although Punjabi's were not allowed to become U.S. Citizens until 1948, they all feel grateful to this Country and believe that

the Sikh values of hard work, sharing and remembering God everyday are the same values that make this Nation so great.

Hari Singh Everest arrived here on Queen Mary II, in 1955. He worked as a farm laborer for one year and earned a Masters Degree from Stanford Uni-versity. He taught at Tierra Buena School and at Yuba College. He was a founding member of the Sikh Temple of Yuba City and presently serves as a member of the Ethnic Advisory Committee of California. He is grate-ful to this Country for the opportunity and freedom it provided him and his family.

Gulzar Singh Bains came to America on January 9, 1950. A History teacher in India, he has been farming prunes and peaches and was a founding Director of the Sikh Temple. He sees the United States of America as the guiding light in the world, leading by its exam-ple of respect for freedom and humanity.

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

Bob Baldev Singh mi-grated to the United States in 1954. He attended Yuba College and received a Mas-ters degree from the Uni-versity of Oregon. He taught at Yuba College and retired in 1993. Bob has dedicated his life to community af-fairs, serving on numerous boards. He is currently serv-ing on the Del Norte Clinics Board of Directors and is a Director & Vice Chairman of the California Human Development Corporation, helping farm workers with low-cost housing, jobs and training. He feels that this Country has been good to him and he tries to show his appreciation by being an involved citizen.

Satinder Davit arrived in the United States of America in October 1949. He graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1956, majoring in aeronautical engineering. He is currently involved in farming in this area. He has served on vari-ous agricultural boards and committees.

Naranjan Kaur arrived in American in 1949. Mrs. Kaur was married to Sohan Singh, the son of Punna Singh and Nand Kaur, long-time residents of the com-munity. Her family farmed and she raised five children.

Dr. Gulzar s. Johl

Dr. Gulzar Johl arrived in America in January 1948 joining his father, a success-ful farmer, who had been here since 1906. Dr. Johl has served this community since 1961 as an eye specialist.

Pritam Kaur Heir came to the United States in 1947. She is an active member of the lo-cal community and a director of the local Gurdwara. She is a retired farmer.

Mr. Naranjan Singh Sohal

Mr. Naranjan Singh Sohal was born in Burma which was then a part of India. He migrated to the U.S. to Mendota, CA in 1958. He moved to Yuba City in 1959 and worked at Wilbur Ranch. He worked very hard and purchased his first Peach Ranch in 1966. He has three sons and three daughters.

Karm Singh Johl and his wife, Swarn Kaur Johl, emigrated from India in 1951. Upon arriving, Karm Singh worked on his grandfather, Tuly Singh Johl’s farm. In 1958, he purchased his first farm. Over the past 52 years, Karm Singh has devoted his life to farming cherries, peaches and prunes. He is highly respected for his community service at the kitchen in the local Sikh Temple. He has been retired for the past seven years.


PAHS Honors These Yuba City Pioneers

Resham S. Kajley

Resham S. Kajley came to the United States of America, as a student on Sept. 15, 1954. He attended Yuba College and California State University, Chico where he earned his teaching credential. He taught at St. Thomas School (1963); Modesto High School (1964) and Yuba City High School (from 1965 until retiring in 1997). He is married to Colleen and has two wonderful sons. “If we are to survive as a Punjabi community, we must cultivate the art of human understanding with our kids, teach them wholesome discipline, build character, be gentle with them, and nurture their strength of spirit to shield them from future shocks.”

Joginder Singh Bains

Joginder Singh Bains journey to the United States began July 1953, in Ganesh Pur, Punjab with a destination of San Francisco. It started with a train ride to Calcutta, an air plane ride to Hong Kong and finally a ship to San Francisco. Bains arrived in the United States on August 3, 1953. Shortly after his arrival, he joined United States Army. He spent eighteen months in Germany. Joining the U.S. Army proved to be an invaluable experience, as he was not only able to see much of the United States but also enjoyed travels through Europe. In February 1958, he was discharged from the Army and left Fort Hood, Texas for California where he attended Yuba College and CSU, Sacramento. Once settled in Yuba City he was involved in rice farming,

on the property that now surrounds the Sacramento Metro Airport. He then moved to Sacramento where he married. In 1969, the family moved back to Yuba City and began farming peaches and prunes. By 1974 the couple had two children. In 1976 he expanded his work and obtained a real estate license and in 1987, he became an insurance agent. Now at the age of seventy he still lives in Yuba City with his wife, daughter and their grandson. The couple’s other daughter and son-in-law live in Sacramento. Bains is still farming and is engaged in real estate and insurance businesses in Yuba City.

Mr. Harbhajan Singh Takher and Mrs. Harbhajan Kaur Takher

Harbhajan Singh Takher arrived in the United

Joginder Singh Purewal Joginder Singh Purewal came to the United States in 1951. Initially, he settled in Linden, Ca. where he worked as a farm laborer. He purchased a farm of peaches and walnuts in Yuba City in 1965. His love of field hockey in India led to his pursuit of promoting the sport in Yuba City. He talked to several local students about the sport of field hockey and sensed their interest which led him to speak to then Yuba City high School principal, George Zerkovich, who gave him permission to use school facilities to practice. After several years, those young men joined a field hockey league in the bay area. With his inspiration and dedication they continue to play and travel all over the U.S. in the Men’s Field Hockey tournaments. He and his wife, Naranjan Kaur, have five children and eight grandchildren.

Taru Singh Mann

Taru Singh Mann Imigrated to the United States in 1951. Along with farming peaches and prunes, he has worked as a foreman for Wilbur Farms for the past 53 years. He has assisted numerous new immigrants in establishing themselves in the Yuba-Sutter area by helping them secure farm labor jobs on the Wilbur Ranch. He and his wife Bakhsish Kaur, have 2 children and seven grandchildren.

Sukhbir Singh Rai he came to the U.S. on May 15, 1954. He is a retired farmer who enjoys working around the house. His philosophy

Mr Hardial Singh Hunji came to the U.S. in 1948. He worked on farms and eventually become a farmer himself. He is a devout Sikh who was married to Kushilia, a Hindu. He is instrumental in building the local Hindu temlple- THE SRINARAYAN TEMPLE - The temple was founded on March 1, 1996 by Hardial Singh Hunji in honor of his late wife, Kushlia Devi Hunji. According to Hunji, she appeared in his dream years after her death and reminded him to build a temple that would serve as a gathering place for people of the Hindu faith. That dream was realized a year later, in 1996, with a 5-acre land donation and $1.5 million from Hunji’s pocket along with donations from a few other temple members. For information, contact the Sri Narayan Hindu Temple at 755-3453

States in 1950. Initially, he worked in the Stockton area but always came to Yuba City during harvest time in pursuit of work. His wife, Harbhajan Kaur (pictured) joined him in 1956. A retired farmer, he has farmed peaches and prunes since the 1950's. Mr. and Mrs. Takher have 3 sons and eight grandchildren.

Hardial Singh Hunji

of life is: Eat well, exercise, stay busy by setting short term and long term goals, allow yourself to do things you enjoy and are helpful to others around you. By working hard I hope my children and grandchildren will work to their potential to continue the legacy left to them.

Sukhbir Singh Rai


Punjabi life partner in cyber space

PunjabiMatrimony.coma part of BharatMatri-

mony.com, is a rendezvous for aspiring singles seeking a marriage alliance. With a registered membership of millions of brides and grooms and over 100,000 marriages arranged, PunjabiMatrimony.com is the most preferred matri-monial portal for Punjabis worldwide. PunjabiMatrimony.com uses the latest technol-ogy, providing members fast, relevant and best matching results in strict confidence. Some of the exclusive services offered include matching horo-scopes, contacting prospec-tive partners, web-casting, featured profiles, consulta-tions, efficient round-the-clock customer support and much more. Some of the new value-added features offered in the portal include “Add Vid-eo” where users can present a 30 second sneak preview to prospective life partners. Using “Match Watch” users can be intimated of profiles matching search criteria,

directly to their mailbox. The parent brand BharatMatrimony.com is the No.1 Indian matrimony portal, providing quality services to bring together like-minded, prospective individuals in wedlock. Offering comprehensive wedding-related services the portal makes the wed-ding event more memora-ble and less cumbersome. Since its inception in 1997, BharatMatrimony.com has expanded to a consortium of 14 regional portals. Apart from online matrimonial services, Bharatmatrimony.com also has a strong offline pres-ence through its publica-tions, Desi Match Maker, an exclusive Indian Matri-monial tabloid for South Asians in USA. With a registered mem-bership of more than two million aspiring brides & grooms and having arranged over 100,000 successful marriages, BharatMatrimony.com is undoubtedly the most trusted name in matrimo-nial portals

Punjabimatrimony.comWells Fargo Bank: Grand Sponsor

This stagecoach makes a stop near you. The fifth-largest bank in

the US, Wells Fargo oper-ates about 3,000 bank branches in some two dozen western and mid-western states, in addition to approximately 1,000 home mortgage stores throughout the country. The company’s services include retail and busi-ness banking, investment management, and ven-

ture capital investment, as well as international trade activities through a joint venture with HSBC. A top residential mortgage lender in the US, Wells Fargo is also one of the largest mortgage servicers. The company bought Pacific Northwest Bancorp in 2003. At Wells Fargo, Community Reinvestment is an integral part of our business culture. Wells Fargo has long understood

that we can be no stronger, nor more successful, than the neighborhoods and communities where we do business. Supporting our communities allows us to better meet our customers’ financial needs and helps us to achieve our goal to be one of America’s best companies.WELLS FARGO BANK900 Colusa AvenueYuba City, CA 95991751-9102 or 822-9609

Pfizer Inc. Platinum Sponsor

Pfizer Inc. discovers, develops, manufac-

tures, and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals and many of the world’s best-known consumer brands. Their innovative, value-added products improve the quality of life of people

around the globe and help them enjoy longer, health-ier, and more productive lives. The company has three-business segments: health care, animal health and consumer health care. Their products are available in more than 150 countries.

Punjabi WavesPlatinum Sponsor

Punjabi Waves TV can be seen on Channel 19,

Tuesdays from 8-9:30pm. This community oriented, award-winning show fea-tures music videos, com-munity updates, comedy, drama, news and interviews. it is co-produced by Jasjit S. Kang and Tejinder Maan.Gold Line Express

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Line, owned by John and Mike Gill,

began on Feb. 10, 1996 with only 2 employees. In about one year Gold Line went from 2 employees to 30 employees, and they now employ 100 people. The company is a multi-million dollar company. Gold Line picks up pre loaded contain-ers at rail yards in Sacramen-to, Oakland, Stockton and Lathrop and delivers them to various points within California. They also pick up freight in containers, take it

to the call-yard and the rail-yard arranges delivery by train to 49 States, Mexico and Canada. The company also picks up containers off the Shipyards in Oakland and delivers them within

California. Gold Line em-ployees are referred to as Draymen. According to co-owner Mike Gill, “we are a success because of God's blessing, not just our hard work.

Apna Punjab TV promotes Punjabi culture, teachings of the Sikh Gurus, views of different people regardless of their religion and local events including: The

Annual Sikh Parade and the Annual Punjabi Mela. Apna Punjab is produced by the Punjabi-American Society and has been

airing locally since march of 1993. It is hotsted by Jasjit S. Kang.

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

Apna Punjab TVThis local-origination television station airs every

Friday from 8-9pm on Channel 18


Zee network has grown to form a fully integrated enter-

prise forming the largest bouquet of 24/7 television channels in south Asian languagesworldwide. Zee TV is the first choice of 225 million south Asians inover 84 countries across the globe. Since July 15, 1998, when Zee TVstarted its operations in the USA, it has become synonymous of southAsian entertainment for over a million viewers in

USA, Canada andCaribbean. Sensing the growing demand and taking a bold initiative - Zee Gold ( now Zee Cinema ) is the first 24/7 South Asian movies and music channel in the USA - was launched on December 15th, 1999. Built around the biggest draw for a south Asian, the mov-ies - Zee Gold brought the largest privately held south Asian movie library from the subcontinent to the liv-ing rooms of subscribers in the USA. Mega events like

Zee Cineawards, A R Rehman con-cert and Gurbani is pre-sented differed live fromHarmander Sahib, Amritsar. The programming is con-stantly monitored tocater to our subscriber’s wishes and aspirations and a judicious mix ofentertainment and educa-tion for the expatriate com-munity is the decidingfactor. News in three languages is uplinked directly from India to keep oursubscribers updated and

in-touch with the happen-ings and opinionscurrent in the subconti-nent. Cricket in brought live on air on a regularbasis subject to availability of rights. Zee Cinema, the largest 24/7 Asian movie and mu-sic channel is an effortto bring bollywood to your doorstep. Following our motto of Movies,Masti and Magic, Zee cinema draws its program-ming from the largest held library of Indian cinema that ranges from the clas-

Zee TV: Grand Sponsorsics of theyesteryears to the mega-hits of contemporary cin-ema. Six films a day ispeppered with programs that update viewers on ‘most-recent’ inbollywood. Zee TV and Zee Cinema sum up to be a cost effec-tive, balanced and whole-some source of information and entertainment and staying ‘in-touch’. Zee TV can be seen on the local ComCast.

12 Punjabi-AmericanFestival,2004

GRAND SPONSOR

ZEE TV/ComCast Cable (International T.V. Program)

Wells Fargo Bank

PLATNIUM SPONSOR

Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals / Gold Line Express (Mike and John Singh Gill)

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals / Punjabi Waves / Punjabimatrimony.comDay’s Inn & Suites (Joga Mann, Rashpal Hundal, Naunihal Hundal)

Comfort Inn, N. Palora Av., YC(Joga Mann, Satinder Gill, Amarjit Dandona)

GOLD SPONSORBollywood Entertainment Inc. / Appeal-Democrat / Diamond Limousine Services

Randhir Singh Kang, Attorney / Glaxo Pharmaceuticals / Sierra Injury and Sports Rehab. / Sunsweet GrowersWestern Union / Jaswant Singh Bains / Washington Mutual / Wendy’s/Johal & Dulai Brothers

Dharni/Jhajj-AM/PM - Quiznos / Natoma Golf (Sukhwinder Cheema) / Fast Choise LLC.

SILVER SPONSORGingery, Thompson & Derdowski / Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. / Sierra Central Bank / Santokh and Harbans K. Bill

Gurmej K. Dhillon / PIP Printing / Raley’s / Guydant / Sacramento Valley Farm Credit / HDI Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc.VJ’s Real Estate / Paul & Ranjit Rai / Lincare / Takhar Development • Crowne Communities

John Taylor Fertilizer, Co. / Walgreens / Norcal Pumps (Nar & Harry Heer) / Sarbjit & Parmjit Johl / Lakeview PetroleumYuba City Racquet & Health Club / Mahal C. (Jarnail Mahal) / Valley Truck & Tractor Co. / Sutter Food LLCRaven Corp. Security Services, Inc. / MedMart Pacific Pulmonary Services / Vraitch & Sohal, Inc.-Quiznos

India Post / Neil’s Tires & Wheels/ Tri Counties Bank / Surjeet Boparai Mr. Vijay Kumar (President) Indo-American Cultural Heritage International Entertainment & Cultural Promoters

BRONZE SPONSORSGold Country Bank / Kulvinder Singh, Attorney, www.singhlawoffice.com / Sierra Nevada Inc. / Abbott Labs / A G Hort Farm

Feather River Construction & Co. / Feather River State Bank / Parminder Bains / 99 Truck Stop / Money Gram / Bi County IrrigationHarbhajan Sandhu / LA Merchandise / Anoop Cheema (Dryclean USA) / Harminder Hundal / Karanpal Bajwa / Dr. Hari Goyal

Manjit Dulay / Kulvir Heer / Jasvir S. Klair / Gurdial S. Sanghera / Thandi Enterprises, Inc. / Beeler Tractor Co. / Sangeet Khanzana RadioDr. Daljit Saini / Ram Dhanota / Satnam Bhullar (7-Eleven - Gridley) / Baljit Gill (Subway - YC) / Jasbir S. Cheema, DDS

Sukhwinder Gosal / Countrywide Home Loans / Robin & Kash Thandi / Ultimate Jump / Michael G. Bohmann / Genco Charitable Corp.

FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVALLaw Office of Shirley Paiz / Les Schwab Tire Center / Brian K. Badertscher / Novinder S. Waraich / Giani Gurdev Singh / T.S. Liquor & Food Mart

Resham Kajley / Ken C. Carlsen / Amritpal Tiwana / L.A. Merchandise / Bombay Video / New Delhi Palace / Bollywood Music) Brian K. Badertscher / Punjabi Fashions / A.G. Entertainment / International Videos & Gifts / New India Market Dr Ajaypal Singh Gill / Hardial Hunji

Taj Palace / Dashmesh Palace / Bombay Palace / India House & Groceries / Vicky Emporium / India Touch / Sukhwinder S. Gill, DDSTV India / Subhrang TV / Radio Geet Sangeet / Sangeet Khazana Radio / Sur SangamRadio

Thank You SponsorsOur 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 messages of understanding.

tenth annual - punjabi american heritage … to all yuba-sutter residents to attend the 10th annual...

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