[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 15, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E33-E34]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING DR. AMARJIT SINGH MARWAH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 15, 2025

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the life 
of Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah, who passed away on January 7, 2025, at the 
age of 98, just weeks shy of his 99th birthday. Dr. Marwah was a 
philanthropist, activist, and beloved leader in the Sikh-American 
community.
  Born in Lahore in 1926, Dr. Marwah came to the United States on a 
Fulbright scholarship in 1950. He earned a Master of Science from the 
University of Illinois and a Doctor of Dental Surgery at Howard 
University. At the time, he was the only foreign dentistry student at 
Howard. Dr. Marwah became the first dentist of Indian origin in 
America, establishing himself as a ``dentist to the stars'' in Malibu, 
California. His patients included Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier, and 
Muhammad Ali.
  In 1956, Dr. Marwah served as the Campaign Manager for Dalip Singh 
Saund when he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr. Marwah 
worked behind the scenes, out of public view, explaining: ``If I showed 
my turban, he wouldn't get one vote.'' Their history-making campaign 
was won by only 300 votes, making Dalip Singh Saund the first Sikh, 
Indian, and Asian American elected to the U.S. Congress. Dr. Marwah's 
work was instrumental in opening the doors for future Indian Americans 
and Asian Americans in public service.
  As a philanthropist, Dr. Marwah was dedicated to supporting young 
people and his Sikh community. His work included establishing the first 
Sikh temple in the U.S. after India's Independence from the British, 
establishing a new state-of-art dentistry clinic at Howard University, 
and funding scholarships for over 100 Indian American students. He also 
founded KK Marwah Girls College in Faridkot, India, which was named in 
honor of his late wife, Kuljit K. Marwah whose contributions were 
equally significant.
  Throughout his life, Dr. Marwah was recognized as a leader, activist, 
and beacon of cultural pride. The City of Los Angeles honored him by 
renaming an intersection on Hollywood Boulevard as Amarjit Singh Marwah 
Square. In describing his work, Dr. Marwah remained characteristically 
humble, stating it is ``a service to both my motherland and my adopted 
country.''
  Dr. Marwah is survived by his children and a community that mourns 
his loss and celebrates his legacy of perseverance, selflessness, and 
civic engagement. May his memory inspire others to follow in his 
footsteps and lead a life of generosity and kindness.

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