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The Sikh Foundation

June 2004

Dr. Jaswant Singh Sachdev

 

Dr. Jaswant Singh Sachdev, MD an active member of the Sikh Community of Phoenix Arizona for the last 28 years was recently conferred with “OUSTANDING CITIZEN’S AWARD 2004”. He was recognized on May 8th in a Reception Dinner Banquet held at La Pasoda Resort in Town of Paradise Valley for his exceptional services to the Arizona Asian American Community. About 400-450 people belonging to 14 different countries represented in Arizona Asian American Association and many others including the Vice Mayor of Scottsdale were at hand to bestow this honor on him with a loud thunderous applause.

Despite being a professional of highest cadre, Dr. Sachdev has been a humble volunteer for Sikh Faith spearheading the cause of Sikh Identity in Arizona. After having a bright academic career starting with a top position in the District of Patiala, Punjab India for the middle school examination and then achieving the third top position in the entire state of Punjab in Matriculation examination, he went on to join the Medical College at Patiala. He was declared the best graduate for the session of 1962-67 and awarded several Gold Medals for topping several examinations throughout his academic career. He immigrated to US in 1972 and spent four years in New York where he completed his specialty training in Neurology at NY Medical College. He then moved to Phoenix and joined the faculty of Carl T. Hayden Veteran Administration Medical Center where he is now practicing as a Neurologist. His job includes patient care, teaching Neurology to the resident staff as well as some clinical research.

Dr. Sachdev has been very active in Sikh and Indian Community affairs ever since his arrival in Phoenix, Arizona. Besides being the main force that brought the Indian as well as American Sikhs together under one roof, he has been instrumental in raising funds with the help of many diverse members of the Sikh community and then initiating one unique kind of a project - Gurdwara Sahib,Guru Nanak Dwara. This Gurdwara is unique in that it follows “Management by Involvement” that mostly keeps the infighting, bickering and politics away. It is a place where Sikh religious ceremonies and services are performed by all congregation members irrespective of gender or ethinic background using both Punjabi and English as a medium of conversation. The Gurdwara’s main objective is to keep in mind the needs of Sikh youth, both American-born as well as immigrants.                                                                           

Recently with Dr. Sachdev’s consistent efforts and motivation, Dr. Jasbir Singh Saini Charitable Foundation (a Arizona based Philanthropist Group) has undertaken an excellent project of a “Sikh community Center-cum- Nishkaam Seva (Selfless Service) Gurdwara” in a distant part of the Valley to serve the needs of families who are far off from the present Gurdwara. In addition, the family of Late Dr. Saini and their friends with constant support and motivation from Dr. Sachdev has been successful in launching a yearly Essay competition in which children of different ages are motivated to produce original essays on Sikh issues that are judged by a panel. The Children who win first and second position are asked to read their essays and then honored in a well organized dinner reception. This function and competition has been held twice so far. A young Sikh chosen as a chief guest at this reception so that he or she can act as role model. For the first year, Chintan Singh of Sikh Foundation graced the occasion while Valarie Kaur of Stanford, a Sikh student activist agreed to be the chief guest.

Soon after the unfortunate killing of Balbir Singh Sodhi (the first fatal hatecrime against Sikhs after 9/11) followed by the attack on Avtar Singh, Dr. Sachdev has played a key role in Public Relations and Awareness efforts. To this purpose, he has given numerous talks at various events and gatherings. These include, a meeting with Senators and Congressmen at the Capitol Hill arranged by Interfaith Group of Washington DC in December 2001, a cross table discussion on Sikh faith on Educational T. V. program and introductory remarks in a special program on Eastern religions. Additionally in December 2002 he was one of the main speakers at a seminar in Chicago held by Sikh youth under the banner of Sikhcess where he gave a stimulating talk about the issues pertaining to Sikh youth in America.

Along with GuruRoop Kaur Khalsa he was recently able to put together a Sikh Task force to deal with issues of hate crimes Volunteers of this organization consists of about 20 turbaned Sikhs who meet at least once a month with various law enforcement agencies to exchange views and discuss the current issues about hate crime as they pertain or affect the Sikh people of Arizona.

About Six years ago a “Homeless Dinner Program” was initiated by Dr. Sachdev and his posthumous friend, Dr. Saini to involve the Sikh Community for sharing its blessings with the unfortunate and needy citizen of Phoenix in accordance with the fundamental philosophy of Sikh faith. This project has been extraordinarily successful in context of consistency and involvement of several Sikh families. In fact a few months ago, the Sikh Community was honored in a special luncheon reception by Phoenix Rescue Center in view of their persistence and excellent service both in terms of cash contributions and volunteer work.

With respect to the Indian Community of Arizona, Dr. Sachdev was instrumental in establishing the India Association of Phoenix. For sometime now he has been regularly writing stimulating and analytical columns in several ethnic newspapers about the issues pertaining to both the Sikh and Indian Diaspora. These articles have beene very well received and appreciated by the audience. He was a member of executive board of Discover India 2002 Program in which Dya Singh World Music Group of Australia was invited as a special guest.

Currently he is working with Arizona State University for planning an introductory course on Sikh beliefs, Punjabi language and Culture.

Despite all the above service to the community when he was asked at the award ceremony about his efforts he simply stated “It is the entire Sikh as well as Indian Community of the Valley of the Sun that deserves the credit and not me - I am simply trying to do what would be expected of a concerned citizen.”                                                             

We believe that Dr. Sachdev with his perpetual humbleness and untiring selfless service truly highlights what the Sikh Gurus had always wanted their Sikhs to be and thus he is one of the finest role models for particularly the Sikh youth and more generally for the entire community.