Dalip Singh Saund

Dalip Singh Saund
Saund, c. 1961
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 29th district
In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1963
Preceded by	John J. Phillips
Succeeded by	George Brown Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1899-09-20)September 20, 1899 Chhajulwadi, Amritsar district, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Punjab, India)
Died	April 22, 1973(1973-04-22) (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Citizenship	British India (1899–1947) India (1947–1949) United States (1949–1973)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Marian Kosa
Relatives	Daleep Singh (Great-grandnephew)
Education	University of the Punjab (BS) University of California, Berkeley (MA, PhD)

Dalip Singh Saund (September 20, 1899 – April 22, 1973) was an Indian-American farmer, academic, lobbyist and Democratic Party politician who represented California in the United States House of Representatives from 1957 to 1963. He was the first Sikh, first Indian American, and first Asian American elected to the United States Congress. As a resident of Westmoreland, Saund represented California's 29th congressional district, consisting of Imperial and Riverside counties.

Born in Chhajulwadi, British India, Saund studied at Prince of Wales College and University of the Punjab, where he was active in the Indian independence movement. In 1920, he immigrated to the United States to continue his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Master of Arts and Ph.D. After marrying and settling in California's Imperial Valley as a farmer, he continued his activism for Indian independence and established the Indian Association of America, lobbying for the eligibility of Indians for naturalization, which was permitted under the Luce–Celler Act of 1946. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1949.

As a long-time supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Saund became active in local Democratic Party politics, winning a local election for a justice of the peace in 1952. Despite the area's strong Republican tendency, Saund was elected to an open seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1956. As a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, he was a critic of United States policy in the Middle East and conducted a tour of Asia where he met with David Ben-Gurion, Sukarno, and Jawaharlal Nehru. He won election to three terms before he was hospitalized for a debilitating stroke in 1962 and was defeated by Patrick M. Martin. He died after a second stroke in 1973.

Early life

Family portrait photograph of the Saund family in 1957

Dalip Singh Saund was born in Chhajulwadi, British India, on September 20, 1899, to Natha Singh and Jeoni Kaur. His father died when he was ten years old. He attended Prince of Wales College.^[1][2] Saund supported the Indian independence movement while studying at the University of the Punjab. In 1919, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Punjab.^[3][4]

In 1920, Saund immigrated to the United States using money from his brother to study food preservation at the University of California, Berkeley and arrived on September 27.^[3][4][5] He did not return to India until 1957.^[6] He graduated with a Master of Arts in 1922, and Ph.D. in 1924. He married Marian Z. Kosa, with whom he had three children, on July 21, 1928.^[4][5]

Saund became a farmer in the Imperial Valley in 1925. His book My Mother India, a response to Katherine Mayo's Mother India, was published by Stockton, California's Sikh temple in 1930. He organized the Indian Association of America and served as its first president in 1942. He and the organization lobbied for legislation to allow Indians to be eligible for naturalization. The Luce–Celler Act was passed in 1946, and Saund gained American citizenship on December 16, 1949.^[7][8][4]

Career

Early politics

Saund supported Franklin D. Roosevelt during the 1932 presidential election. He worked for Glen Killingsworth, the Justice of the Peace of Westmoreland. Saund was elected to the Imperial County Democratic Central Committee without opposition in 1950, with the aid of Killingsworth, who died shortly afterwards. He was later elected as head of the committee in 1954.^[4][9] He served as a delegate to the 1952, 1956, and 1960 Democratic National Conventions.^[10]

Saund ran for Justice of the Peace in the 1950 election, but was not allowed to take the position as he had not been a citizen for long enough.^[11] In 1951, Saund attempted to be appointed by the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, but they selected Frank Lyall instead. Saund defeated Lyall in the 1952 election to become Justice of the Peace of Westmoreland.^[3][12][2] He claimed to be the only native Indian holding office in the United States at the time.^[13]

United States House of Representatives

Elections

Portrait of Saund during his tenure in the United States House of Representatives

During the 1956 election Saund ran to replace John R. Phillips, who was retiring, as the United States representative from California's 29th congressional district.^[14] On April 16, a legal challenge was filed against Saund claiming that he had not been a United States citizen long enough to run in the election, but the challenge was dismissed by the 4th California Courts of Appeal.^[15][16] He won the Democratic nomination and later defeated Republican nominee Jacqueline Cochran in the general election despite Dwight D. Eisenhower winning the area in the presidential election.^[17][18][2] He became the first and only Sikh elected to the United States Congress as well as the first Indian and Asian American elected to Congress.^[3][19]

Saund defeated John Babbage, a former member of the California State Legislature, in the 1958 election and Charles H. Jameson in the 1960 election.^[20][21][2] He won renomination against Rya E. Hiller during the 1962 election, despite being hospitalized for a stroke he had on May 1, but was defeated by Republican nominee Patrick M. Martin after being hospitalized at the National Naval Medical Center for the entire campaign.^{[22][23][24][25]}

Tenure

Following his election to the United States House of Representatives, Saund stated that he wanted a seat on the House Interior Committee to make sure that his district received a fair share of the Colorado River's water.^[26] In 1957, he was appointed to serve on a sub-committee in the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs.^[27]

Saund stated during the 1956 election that he would travel to Asia if elected.^[9] He conducted a tour of multiple eastern Asian countries which included visits to Japan, Taiwan, British Hong Kong, Philippines, South Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, India, and Pakistan in 1957. He also visited Israel, where he met with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, on his way returning to the United States.^[28][29] In Indonesia he met with President Sukarno and in India he met with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.^[30][31]

Death

Saund was hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center in 1963 following a stroke he suffered while flying to Washington, D.C.^[32] He died on April 22, 1973, following a second stroke in Hollywood, California.^[33] Twenty-four members of the United States House of Representatives paid tribute to Saund on the House floor and a memorial service was held.^[34]

Political positions

In 1957, Saund criticized the United States for its policy of "buying kings and protecting oil" in the Middle East while ignoring the people. He stated that the British had done a similar policy in India and were "tossed out of India". He stated that the same thing would happen to the United States if it continued the policy.^[35] He praised President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his stand against the United Kingdom, France, and Israel during the Suez Crisis.^[36] He criticized the United States Department of State for giving a more elaborate welcome to Queen Elizabeth II than any Asian leader.^[37] He defended the United States during the Little Rock Crisis while on tour in Japan stating that in "thirty-five out of the forty-eight states of the Union there was no discrimination against Negroes in schools or public places".^[9]

Electoral history

1956 United States House of Representatives California's 29th congressional district election^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dalip Singh Saund	54,989	51.55%
	Republican	Jacqueline Cochran	51,690	48.45%
Total votes			106,679	100.00%

1958 United States House of Representatives California's 29th congressional district election^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dalip Singh Saund (incumbent)	64,518	62.39%	+10.84%
	Republican	John Babbage	38,899	37.61%	−10.84%
Total votes			103,417	100.00%

1960 United States House of Representatives California's 29th congressional district election^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dalip Singh Saund (incumbent)	76,139	57.05%	−5.34%
	Republican	Charles H. Jameson	57,319	42.95%	+5.34%
Total votes			133,458	100.00%

1962 United States House of Representatives California's 38th congressional district election^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Patrick M. Martin	68,583	55.94%	+12.99%
	Democratic	Dalip Singh Saund (incumbent)	54,022	44.06%	−12.99%
Total votes			122,605	100.00%

See also

• List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
• List of Asian American jurists

References

1. Pradhan 1996, pp. 240.
2. Mackaye, Milton (August 2, 1958). "U.S. Congressman from Asia". The Saturday Evening Post.
3. "Breaking Barriers: Congressman Dalip Singh Saund". Pew Research Center. December 19, 2008. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020.
4. "SAUND, Dalip Singh (Judge)". United States House of Representatives. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020.
5. Pradhan 1996, pp. 241.
6. "Congressman Finds Indians Like U.S." The Olympian. January 3, 1958. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Pradhan 1996, pp. 241–242.
8. "Dalip Saund, 73; Former Congressman". Los Angeles Times. April 24, 1973. p. 46. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Saund 1960.
10. "SAUND, Dalip Singh (Judge) (1899-1973)". United States House of Representatives. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020.
11. "Dalip Singh Saund - First Asian in Congress". Clevland.com. May 11, 2012. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020.
12. "Justice Race Decided". Los Angeles Times. November 22, 1952. p. 7. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "India-Born Man In Congress Bid". Des Moines Tribune. November 22, 1952. p. 26. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Area Voters Face Loss of Judgeship". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. January 20, 1956. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Judge's Status As Citizen Challenged". Oakland Tribune. April 17, 1956. p. 9. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Challenge of Judge Saund's Candidacy Taken to High Court". The San Bernardino Sun. April 21, 1956. p. 25. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "1956 Democratic primary". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. June 6, 1956. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "1956 election results". United States House of Representatives. September 15, 1958. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 24, 2020.
19. "Dalip Singh Saund Collection". South Asian American Digital Archive. Archived from the original on September 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
20. Moore, Preimesberger & Tarr 2001, pp. 1117.
21. Moore, Preimesberger & Tarr 2001, pp. 1122.
22. "Rep. Saund Wins Renomination". Press-Telegram. June 6, 1962. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Secrecy Hides Saund Illness". Napa Valley Register. August 10, 1962. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Ailing Saund Loses Race". Daily Times-Advocate. November 7, 1962. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
25. Moore, Preimesberger & Tarr 2001, pp. 1127.
26. "Saund Seeks Appointment To House Interior Committee". The Desert Sun. December 19, 1956. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
27. "Congressman Born in India to Visit There". Los Angeles Times. May 3, 1957. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Representative Will Tour Asia". Appeal-Democrat. October 24, 1957. p. 12. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Saund Visits Israel Chief". Independent. December 27, 1957. p. 5. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Saund In Indonesia". Daily Independent Journal. November 14, 1957. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Saund, Family Arrive In India For 3 Week Visit". The Sacramento Bee. November 26, 1957. p. 29. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "Saund Moved to UCLA". The San Bernardino Sun. January 13, 1963. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Ex-lawmaker dies". The Minneapolis Star. April 24, 1973. p. 9. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Veysey Issues Saund Tribute". The Desert Sun. May 19, 1973. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "US Congressman Warns Of Stakes In Red Cold War". Appeal-Democrat. October 23, 1957. p. 11. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Saund Lauds Eisenhower on Suez Stand". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 1957. p. 87. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
37. "Greater U.S. Courtesy To Asians Urged". Daily Independent Journal. October 29, 1957. p. 2. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
38. Moore, Preimesberger & Tarr 2001, pp. 1112.

Works cited

• Moore, John; Preimesberger, Jon; Tarr, David, eds. (2001). Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections. Congressional Quarterly. ISBN 1568026021.
• Pradhan, Sachin (1996). India in the United States: Contributions of Indian & Indians in the United States of America. SP Press International. ISBN 0961712910.
• Saund, Dalip (1960). Congressman From India. E. P. Dutton.

External links

• Dalip Singh Saund materials in the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)
• Dalip Singh Saund at Find a Grave
• The Dalip Singh Saund web site from the family archives

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by John J. Phillips	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 29th congressional district 1957–1963	Succeeded by George Brown Jr.