June 2004
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.
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