Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/396160
8 O n May 8, the Motion Picture Association of America held a special screening of Dalip Singh Saund: His Life, His Legacy, a documentary film produced by The Heritage Series in association with the United States Capitol Historical Society and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Con- gressional Studies. Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian American, first Indian, and first Sikh elected to the U.S. Con- gress. Born in a small Punjabi town, he arrived in America at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882), the Asiatic Barred Zone Act (1917), and similar discriminatory laws were aimed at immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Islands. Despite these restrictions, Saund received a Ph.D. in mathematics and became a farmer, community advocate, and judge. In a nationally watched race in 1956, he won election to rep- resent California's 29th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. In his first term he was appointed to the Foreign Affairs Committee; during his second term he joined the Interior and Insular Committee. During his three terms (1957- 63), Saund supported water rights for his district, equal rights for men and women, and the Foreign Assistance Act, among other issues. Saund's career was tragically cut short following a stroke he suffered in 1962. (cont., page 9) "...I am directing that all my staff view this film. I have never seen the footage of Saund speaking. You have done a very important thing in telling his story." – Rep. Mark Takano, California Dalip Singh Saund Documentary Screened ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL KATIE GARLOCK/PORTRAITIONS KATIE GARLOCK/PORTRAITIONS This portrait of Congressman Dalip Singh Saund hangs outside the House chamber in the U.S. Capitol. Dr. Harpal Singh Mangat; Dr. Harminder Kaur, coach, "Sikh kid 2 kid"; and E. Samantha Cheng, producer of "Dalip Singh Saund: His Life, His Legacy". USCHS president Hon. Ron Sarasin, APAICS president Floyd Mori, MPAA president Hon. Chris Dodd, and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA), chair of the Congressional Asian Pa- cific American Caucus and founder and co-chair of the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus, each presented introductory remarks during the evening's program.