Америкалық саяхатшы Далип Сингх Саунд

American politician (1899–1973)

Dalip Singh Saund (September 20, 1899 – April 22, 1973) was an Indian American politician who served three terms (1957 to 1963) in the United States House of Representatives from California's 29th congressional district as a member of the Democratic Party. He was the first Sikh, Indian American, and Asian American elected to the United States Congress. Prior to his tenure in Congress he was active in local politics in Imperial County, California.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. Saund defeated John Babbage, a former member of the California State Legislature, in the 1958 election and Charles H. Jameson in the 1960 election.

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. In 1957, he was appointed to serve on a sub committee in the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Saund stated during the 1956 election that he would travel to Asia if elected. 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. In Indonesia he met with President Sukarno and in India he met with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

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

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. He praised President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his stand against the United Kingdom, France, and Israel during the Suez Crisis. He criticized the United States Department of State for giving a more elaborate welcome to Queen Elizabeth II than any Asian leader. 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".