Brief Biography of Dr. Saund: Dalip Singh Saund, born in 1899 in Amritsar, Punjab, India, came to Berkeley in 1920; earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1924; and was employed as a foreman of cotton pickers in the Imperial County before becoming a farmer and fertilizer distributor. He served as President of the Hindustani Association of America (Berkeley Chapter) and later, it’s National President. His hard work resulted in the Luce-Cellar Act (1946) which allowed Indians and Filipinos to be naturalized as citizens. It fixed an immigration quota of 100 per year for each of the two countries.
This Act helped him to become a U.S. citizen in 1949. He was elected Judge in 1952 and served in that capacity in the Imperial County until 1956, when he was elected to the Congress from the 29th District (Imperial and Riverside Counties). He was the First Asian American to serve as Congressman. He served three terms and contributed greatly. He suffered a disabling stroke and lost the election for a 4th term.
Honored by Federal Government: In 2005 the Federal Government named a U.S. Post Office building in Temecula (Imperial County), after him. Since 2006, he is among the Prominent Foreign-Born Americans in The Citizens’ Almanac. In 2008, his portrait was unveiled in the nation’s capitol.
Groups of students visit the Hall of Fame as a part of the educational program. However, they do not learn the story of the First Asian-American Congressman who was truly a trailblazer. Our future generations have a lot to learn from his life-story. They will receive much inspiration from his legacy. He richly deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Please request the following to sign the letter written by Assemblyman V.Manuel Perez (Now representing the Imperial and Riverside Counties) and cosigned by Senators Denise Ducheny and Senator George Runner and circulated to all legislators.
1. Senator Darrell Steinberg,
President of CA Senate, Rm. 205,
Capitol, Sacramento,
CA 95814;
Fax 916-338-6586; Tel.916-651-4019;
2. John A. Perez,
Assembly Speaker,
Rm.219, Capitol, Sacramento,
CA 95814;
Fax 916- 319-2146; Tel. 916-319-2046
You can phone, fax, mail them. Their contact information is on the internet and can be found by Googling for Find Your California State Legislative Representatives, and clicking on Find Your California State Legislative Representatives
You may write the following or its modified version.
"Dalip Singh Saund (1899-1973), Ph.D., Math. (Berkeley, 1924), lettuce grower, fertilizer businessman, Imperial County Judge (1952-56) and First Foreign-born Asian- American U.S. Congressman (1957-62) was a true trailblazer. He made significant contributions and left a great legacy.
He richly deserves to be included in the Hall of Fame of the California Museum of History, Women and the Arts. The Hall of Fame is visited by student groups for educational purposes. Therefore, in the interest of proper education of students in our pluralistic diversity-recognizing State, I request you to please sign the letter circulated jointly by V. Manuel Perez (Assembly Member, 80th District), Denise Moreno Ducheny (State Senator, 40th District) and George Runner (State Senator, 17th District) recommending Congressman’s candidature to the First Lady, Ms. Maria Shriver.
(Your name)
(Your address)
For further assistance, contact Dr. Onkar S. Bindra at (916)858-2650.