author
Dalip Singh Saund
1899–1973
A trailblazing immigrant politician, he broke barriers as the first Asian American, first Indian American, and first Sikh elected to the U.S. Congress. His path from Punjab to California farming towns to Capitol Hill reads like a classic American story of persistence and public service.
1 Audiobook
My mother India
by Dalip Singh Saund
About the author
Born in Punjab in 1899, Dalip Singh Saund came to the United States in 1920 to study at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned advanced degrees in mathematics. He later built a life in California's Imperial Valley as a farmer and community leader, gaining a reputation for hard work and practicality.
Saund became deeply involved in civic life and politics at a time when Asian immigrants faced major legal barriers in the United States. He was part of the effort that helped open the door for Indian immigrants to become naturalized citizens, and he went on to serve locally as a judge before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Serving three terms in Congress from 1957 to 1963, he made history as the first Asian American, first Indian American, and first Sikh elected to Congress. His life is remembered not only for that milestone, but also for the way he connected immigrant ambition, local service, and national politics.