People

Kashmir Singh Gill Sworn Mayor of California's Yuba city

by STEPHEN MAGAGNINI

 

Yuba City, California, which became the first major Sikh and South Asian settlement in the U.S. and is now known as the first Punjabi village in this country, got its first Sikh-American mayor this week.

Forty-six-year-old Kashmir ‘Kash‘ Singh Gill, who as a boy rose before dawn to pick peaches in the broiling summer sun, was, on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, sworn as the new mayor of the city as hundreds attended his oath-taking ceremony.

After a 5-0 vote by the City Council, Kashmir - now the senior vice president of a local bank - was sworn in in a festive ceremony featuring both Punjabi music, dancing and delicacies.

There are about 15,000 Punjabis, mostly Sikhs, in this city of 65,000. Kashmir Singh is the first Sikh mayor in California.

"We have made history tonight, and everyone is part of that history," said Kashmir as outgoing mayor Leslie McBride passed the gavel to him.

"I am elated to be honoured with this position. We Punjabis have been here for more than a hundred years, and to be the mayor of this city is a privilege for the whole community," Punjab-born Kashmir said.

"I feel really great ... I have spent all my life here and to represent Yuba City is a great honour," added Kashmir, who came to the city in 1967 with his family as a three-year-old toddler.

His family is related to the city's world-famous California peach farmer, Sardar Didar Singh Bains.

Freedom-seeking Sikh farmers from Punjab, amazed by the Central Valley's rich soil, began farming in Sutter, Yuba, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties in the late 1800s. They went on to become the biggest peach and prune growers in California.

"We came from Lakhsina village in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab when my uncle Didar Singh sponsored us," said Kashmir, who will now command the city's $80-million budget.

"It's a great honour for our family. He worked hard to earn people's hearts, and I think he's going to do a good job," Didar Singh said. "It shows our young people if they want to get involved in politics, there's a chance."

Didar Singh's American-born son Karm Singh Bains, 35, said Kashmir's mayorship "means a great deal to our community. We've been waiting a long time. It's nice to have somebody who might be able to relate to your issues."

Karm Singh sees a big future for Kashmir, a Republican. "It's just a stepping stone," he said. "The sky's the limit. Before you know it, we'll have people in the State Assembly and Congress."

But first, Kashmir said, as the $500-a-month mayor, he'll try to get levees fixed so his constituents don't have to pay more for flood insurance.

"And we're going to be feeling the crunch to streamline our police and fire departments," he said. "Unemployment is close to double digits, but when spring rolls around they're back working in the orchards."

Kashmir, who was first elected to the City Council four years ago, has a history of public service. He helped get a school bond passed that financed the city's new River Valley High School.

"We are so proud of him," said his wife, Neena Kaur. "He's worked so hard since he was 3 years old and I guess his hard work paid off."

A banker by profession, Kashmir served as the vice-mayor before becoming the mayor.

The position is held in rotation by the top two vote getters in city council elections.

The five-member city council has another Sikh-American member - Tej Singh Maan.

Sikhs first came to this city in the late 19th century.

"Kashmir Singh Gill's elevation as the mayor means that the city has adopted its immigrant children whose forefathers landed here more than a century ago," said the city's famous resident and physician Jasbir Singh Kang.

He said: "Originally 10 Sikh families settled in this area. Today, we make up about 12 percent of the city population. Apart from Yuba City, our people also live in the outlying towns of Marysville, Live Oak, Gridley, Colusa and Wheatland."

Famous for its annual Sikh Parade which attracts Sikhs, Punjabis and others from around the world, Yuba City has five gurdwaras.

Punjabi is taught as a second language in the three major schools of the city.

"I look forward to visiting Punjab next year to share my joy with folks back in my native village," said the new mayor.

In the meantime, he says "I'm living the American dream. From going to the U.S. with no money, having a tough life and learning the value of hard work and sharing with others, to becoming a public servant."

He remembers leaving the house at 5 a.m. with his mom, twin brother and two older sisters to pick peaches and prunes. "We'd fill 10 to 12 bins a day at $6 or $7 a bin."

He worked summers during high school, getting promoted to tractor driver then truck driver. He remembers going with his father to get a loan for their first ranch.

"They were talking about budgets and financial statements, and I said, this is something I could enjoy."

Kashmir graduated from Yuba College and California State University, Chico, then became a banker. He's now senior vice president at Butte Community Bank, specializing in agricultural lending.

"My wife, our children and I also farm peaches, prunes, walnuts and almonds on 100 acres," said Kashmir, who changes out of his banker's clothes at 5:30 p.m., puts on his jeans and heads into the orchards with his son Rajan Singh, 17, and daughter Preya Kaur, 10. His oldest daughter, Harveen Kaur, goes to Pepperdine University.

Kashmir Singh Gill proudly says that his roots in California go back four generations. "My grandfather's uncle helped build the Stockton Sikh Gurdwara," the region's first.

 

[Courtesy: The Sacramento Bee and IANS]

November 14, 2009

 

 

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