Sukhdev Singh Purewal & Rashpal Singh Purewal

Honoree: Bhaktawar & Udham Singh Purewal

Donor: Sukhdev Singh Purewal & Rashpal Singh Purewal

Looking across their village Shankar in Punjab, India, brothers Bakhtawar Singh Purewal and Udham Singh Purewal knew there was a better life to be lived. These men, with a vision, wanted to create something more for their lives, and for future generations to come. Their Uncle Gurbachan S. Purewal was already in America, and holding the key to their future. Together they made the choice they would leave their village and migrated to America. With a 5th grade education and $10.00 in his pocket the eldest sibling, Bakhtawar S. Purewal, took the courageous step and made his way to America in 1951.

He worked on local farms for a few years and then returned to India in 1955 to marry Harbhajan Kaur. It was also this time that he sponsored his brother Udham S. Purewal who arrived in California on June 17, 1955, leaving his wife Prito Kaur behind along with his two sons (Rashpal and Narinder). Now both brothers worked on various farms in Colusa, Mendota, Woodland, and Yuba City before purchasing their first 40 acre grape farm in Lodi, California. Harbhajan Kaur arrived from India in March of 1959, with Prito Kaur arriving with her two sons in 1962. In the years that followed, Bakhtawar's family grew with the births of three daughters (Sukhbinder, Sukhjinder, and Gursharon) and two sons (Sukhdev and Munjit). Udham Singh's family grew with the births of two daughters (Sukhcharanjeet and Sukhjit) and another son, Satnaum.

With limited English speaking skills and a lack of general resources, life was incredibly hard for the Purewal families (as it was for all new arrivals). They sold the 40 acre grape farm in Lodi and decided to settle in Yuba City, since most of the Punjabi families migrating from India were settling there. It was with determination and a strong sense of perseverance they saved enough money to purchase their first piece of land in Yuba City in 1957 and continued to build a successful farming business and prospered by purchasing additional land through the years.

By the Grace of God Bakhtawar Singh and Udham Singh were able to donate land in 1967 to build the third Sikh Temple in California, the first in Yuba City. Both brothers were active members of the Tierra Buena Sikh Temple (Yuba City) with Bakhtawar serving as elected member of the Board for many terms and Udham providing service mainly in the Langar (kitchen) area. Both brothers were very devoted to their sewa (service).

Over the years, Bakhtawar and Udham sponsored many family/friends so they could immigrate to the U.S. Both brothers will be remembered as kind, gentle, and generous hearted. Their story is a prime example of achieving the 'American Dream'. Bakhtawar Singh Purewal passed away in 2004 and his story will live on through family and friends. Udham Singh Purewal continues to reside in Yuba City with his wife and children.