[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                HONORING THE LIFE OF SARDUL SINGH SIHOTA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2019

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Mr. 
Cox, to honor the life of Sardul Singh Sihota, who passed away on March 
5, 2019 at the age of 77. Throughout his life, Sardul was known for his 
contribution to the agriculture industry, his involvement with the 
Central Valley Sikh American community, and his role in establishing 
the first Sikh Temple in Selma, California.
  Sardul was born on May 15, 1941 in Bara Pind, District Jalandhar, 
India to Assa Singh and Amar Kaur Singh. Sardul immigrated to Yuba 
City, California in 1961 to start a new chapter in his life and create 
a prosperous foundation for his family. Having been raised on a farm in 
India, Sardul moved to Selma, California, where he began to grow raisin 
grapes and continue his family's tradition of farming. Two years later, 
Sardul bought his first piece of property in Selma, which his family 
continues to live on today.
  As one of the first Sikh Indians to live in Selma in the mid-1960s, 
Sardul had a desire to help other families immigrate to the Central 
Valley for a better life. He assisted many families by sharing his 
knowledge about the immigration process and acclimating to the life in 
the U.S. As a result, Selma became the new home to thousands of Sikh 
American families.
  As the Sikh community continued to grow and flourish, Sardul noticed 
the lack of temples close by where families could worship, celebrate, 
and mourn. He worked with his friends to build Selma's first Sikh 
Temple in 1987.
  Sardul is survived by his parents, his wife Jitendra, two daughters, 
Gurdeep Hebert and Harroop, and three sons, Paul, Simon, and Navjot, 
along with a host of extended family and friends.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that we ask our colleagues 
to join us in honoring the life of Sardul Singh Sihota and the great 
legacy that he leaves behind. Sardul will be remembered by his 
community for his generosity, hard work, and commitment to his friends 
and family. With all the relationships that he has forged along his 
journey, his memory will be forever remembered.

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