Dalip Singh Saund
Encyclopedia
Dalip Singh Saund (September 20, 1899–April 22, 1973) was a member of the United States House of Representatives
. He served the 29th District
of California
from January 3, 1957–January 3, 1963. He was the first Asian American
, Indian American
and Sikh
member of the United States Congress
. He is to date the only Sikh to have served in Congress, though Congressman Martin Hoke
(R-OH) lived as a Sikh for a period of time in the 1970s.
Born in Chhajulwadi, Punjab
, India
, to a Sikh family, he received his bachelor's degree
in mathematics from the University of Punjab in 1919.
He emigrated to the United States, (via Ellis Island
) originally to study agriculture
at the University of California, Berkeley
. While at the university, he obtained a master's degree
(1922) and a Ph.D.
(1924), both in mathematics. He thereafter remained in the United States, becoming a successful farmer.
Later, he campaigned to allow "Hindus," as all people of South Asian descent were called at that time, to become naturalized citizens. After the Luce-Celler Act
was passed in 1946, he applied for naturalization and became an American citizen in 1949. He ran for election in 1950 as a Justice of the Peace for Westmoreland township
, California
, and won the election, but his election was thrown out as he had been a citizen for less than a year. He later ran again for the same post and won.
In November 1955, he announced his campaign to run for the House of Representatives as a Democrat
and won an election for an open seat against a famous Republican
aviator, Jacqueline Cochran
. He was re-elected twice, becoming the first Asian American
, the first Indian American
and first member of a non-Abrahamic faith to be elected to Congress.
In 1960 he wrote an autobiography titled Congressman from India.
In May 1962, he suffered a severe stroke
which left him unable to speak at all, or walk without assistance, thus ending his congressional career.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He served the 29th District
California's 29th congressional district
California's 29th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district takes in Alhambra, San Gabriel, Burbank, Glendale, South Pasadena, Temple City, Monterey Park, and Pasadena in Greater Los Angeles.The district is...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from January 3, 1957–January 3, 1963. He was the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, Indian American
Indian American
Indian Americans are Americans whose ancestral roots lie in India. The U.S. Census Bureau popularized the term Asian Indian to avoid confusion with Indigenous peoples of the Americas who are commonly referred to as American Indians.-The term: Indian:...
and Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
member of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He is to date the only Sikh to have served in Congress, though Congressman Martin Hoke
Martin Hoke
Martin R. Hoke is an American Republican politician, member of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and former member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio....
(R-OH) lived as a Sikh for a period of time in the 1970s.
Born in Chhajulwadi, Punjab
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, to a Sikh family, he received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in mathematics from the University of Punjab in 1919.
He emigrated to the United States, (via Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
) originally to study agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. While at the university, he obtained a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(1922) and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(1924), both in mathematics. He thereafter remained in the United States, becoming a successful farmer.
Later, he campaigned to allow "Hindus," as all people of South Asian descent were called at that time, to become naturalized citizens. After the Luce-Celler Act
Luce–Celler Act of 1946
The Luce-Celler Act of 1946 was proposed by Republican Clare Booth Luce and Democrat Emanuel Celler in 1943 and signed into law by President Harry Truman on July 2, 1946. It re-established immigration from the Indian subcontinent and the Philippines and granted naturalization rights to individuals...
was passed in 1946, he applied for naturalization and became an American citizen in 1949. He ran for election in 1950 as a Justice of the Peace for Westmoreland township
Westmorland, California
Westmorland is a city in Imperial County, California. Westmorland is located southwest of Calipatria, The population was 2,225 at the 2010 census, up from 2,131 at the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and won the election, but his election was thrown out as he had been a citizen for less than a year. He later ran again for the same post and won.
In November 1955, he announced his campaign to run for the House of Representatives as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and won an election for an open seat against a famous Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
aviator, Jacqueline Cochran
Jacqueline Cochran
Jacqueline Cochran was a pioneer American aviator, considered to be one of the most gifted racing pilots of her generation...
. He was re-elected twice, becoming the first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, the first Indian American
Indian American
Indian Americans are Americans whose ancestral roots lie in India. The U.S. Census Bureau popularized the term Asian Indian to avoid confusion with Indigenous peoples of the Americas who are commonly referred to as American Indians.-The term: Indian:...
and first member of a non-Abrahamic faith to be elected to Congress.
In 1960 he wrote an autobiography titled Congressman from India.
In May 1962, he suffered a severe stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
which left him unable to speak at all, or walk without assistance, thus ending his congressional career.