[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 149 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7868-H7869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING DIDAR SINGH BAINS

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to acknowledge the loss of a 
pillar of our community in northern California, Didar Singh Bains of 
Yuba City.
  He lived a full life to the age of 84 and passed away peacefully at 
his home, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, September 13.

[[Page H7869]]

  He was born in 1938 in Nangal Khurd, Hoshiarpur District of Punjab, 
India, to a farming family. As a young man, he immigrated in 1958 to 
Sutter County, settling in Yuba City, because of the potential he saw 
in the land, soil, weather, and its likeness to Punjab, India.
  Indeed, it worked out very well. Through his hard work and 
determination, he became the largest independent peach grower in the 
world, earning him the title of ``the Peach King.''
  He was a deeply religious man, a leader in the Yuba-Sutter area, 
philanthropist, and active member of the Sikh Temple of Yuba City.
  He played a critical role in founding Sikh institutions and festivals 
in the Yuba City area, as well as around the world.

  In 1980, he started the Yuba Nagar Kirtan, called the Yuba Sikh 
Parade, which has now become an annual event and a staple to the area 
where people travel from all over the State, even all over North 
America, tens of thousands, to take part. I have had a chance to take 
part myself. It is indeed incredible.
  When Sikhs faced hate crimes after the September 11 terrorist attacks 
due to misunderstanding, it was Didar who led a delegation of Sikhs to 
meet the U.S. President, George W. Bush, at the time.
  He was a pillar of our community. His loss will be felt by Yuba City 
and indeed internationally.

                          ____________________