Sasha Khoka's Story Pitch for AAJA 2003

Summary: Dilip Singh Saund was the first Asian-American elected to Congress, and the only one of South Asian origin ever to be elected. This piece will take a look back at Saund’s life and contributions – and what his legacy means to emerging South Asian American political candidates fifty years later. (See background at end of this memo from original pitch.)

Characters: (Confirmed)

• Fred Fisher: Saund’s son-in-law who also toured on his campaign with him and recalls the details of his election, time in office, and the stroke that occurred during Saund’s third term.
  
  
• Norma Saikhon: Her brother was Saund’s campaign manager. She grew up in Westmoreland, where Saund had his farm, and is part of a Punjabi-Mexican family typical of Saund’s Indian constituents.

Characters: (willing if we decide we need them)

• Anna Sandhu: An 82-year old who lived in the Imperial Valley for 75 years, and remembers Saund and his family. She now lives in Oklahoma. (Pre-interviewed by phone – will interview this week via phone if we decide we need her.)
• Chris Dumm: Head of Indian American Center for Political Awareness, a nonprofit that works to support Indian Americans’ political leadership. They held an event in the House of Reps. to honor Saund last month. Dumm can speak to Saund’s legacy, contributions to Congress, and his place as a role model to Indian-Americans. (In DC, will do this week if we need him as an “expert” voice.)

Characters (pending confirmation– we won’t use all of these):

• Ellie Ford: Saund’s youngest daughter and only living child, who toured India with her parents when Saund was lauded as a hero, and remembers his time in office.
• Chirinjeev Kathuria: Running for Senate from Chicago this fall - a bearded Sikh with a turban – fears discrimination after 9/11
• Bobby Jindal: Currently leading Republican candidate for Governor of Louisiana – perhaps the most prominent Indian-American running for major office.

Sound:

• Ambience of farms in Imperial Valley
• Original recordings of Saund’s radio show “Report from Washington” for his constituents – We have these as wav files and Doug has loaded them into his computer.
• Tour of Imperial Valley museum that includes a display devoted to Saund
• Possible ambi of July event in DC to honor Saund

Production Schedule:

Week of 8/4: Phone interview with Anna Sandhu if we decide we need it. Interviews with Bobby Jindal or Chirinjeev Kathuria if we can get them. If not, Chris Dumm from Indian American Center for Political Awareness.

Monday 8/11:
8:30 am Leave San Diego with Fred Fisher for Imperial Valley
10:30 am Arrive Imperial Valley, meet Norma Saikhon
Go to farm in Imperial Valley run by Indian family to record ambi of agricultural noises
Drive past Saund’s old farm and have Saikhon narrate that
Meet with old-timers who knew Saund if Saikhon can set them up
LUNCH
1:00 Visit Imperial Valley Historical museum and have Saikhon narrate tour of exhibit relating to Saund
2:00 Interview Saikhon about Saund (interview Fred Fisher separately or together with Saikhon. If it gets too late or too hot – it’s supposed to be 122 degrees out there! We can interview Fisher back in San Diego.
Dinnertime – return to San Diego

Tuesday 8/12:
If possible, interview with Ellie Ford (Saund’s daughter) in Pasadena. I am trying to get her to come to San Diego so we can interview them all together.

DILIP SINGH SAUND – BACKGROUND:

The first Asian to be elected to Congress was Dilip Singh Saund, a native of India – in 1956. His district included the Imperial Valley, just East of San Diego, where hundreds of early Punjabi pioneers settled as farmers in the early 20th century.

Saund’s story could be a lens on a fascinating history of early Indian immigrants to the California – and the prejudice they faced in rural communities. Saund was born to an uneducated family in the Punjab province of India. Inspired by the writings of Abraham Lincoln, he persuaded his family to allow him to study in the U.S. He attended UC Berkeley in the 1920s – earning his PhD in math and agriculture. But as an Indian (in a turban!) he couldn’t find a job in his field. He spent summers working for canneries, and when he graduated, was foreman of a cotton-picking crew. He moved to the rural Imperial Valley, where Punjabis from rural parts of India had settled to farm.

Saund started his own lettuce farm and began to gain status in his community. Nevertheless, he was often denied admission to hotels and tennis courts. He was ostracized further once he married an Anglo woman and their children – his wife was denied admission to the local ladies’ book club because her children were “half-breeds.”

Saund spearheaded campaigns to allow Indian immigrants to become U.S. citizens. In 1946, he and other Indian leaders successfully convinced President Truman to sign the Luce-Cellar Act. Saund naturalized and ran for Justice of the Peace in Westmoreland. He became “Judge Saund,” a title that helped him when he decided to run for Congress. He was fairly light-skinned, and without his turban, he could pass. Intentionally or not, his some involved with his campaign say this is what helped him win.

Once he was in Congress, Saund championed farmers’ rights and civil rights legislation for immigrants and people of color. He was also an advocate of national defense and anti-communist doctrine.

Today, there are 6 Asian-Americans in Congress. But Dilip Singh Saund’s contribution has largely been lost to history - most Americans, including most Asian-Americans, have never heard of him. This year, several efforts have been underway to try to bring Saund’s legacy to light, and encourage more South Asian-Americans to run for office.