Gurmeet Singh Khalsa

A Salute to Gurmeet Singh Khalsa
a Good Friend and Humanitarian

Gurmeet Singh Khalsa is a Human Rights Advocate and Community Activist and he is my friend. I have known Gurmeet for 10 years. I first met him when He was involved in helping to start the Human Rights Coalition of Northern california sponsored by Catholic Charities and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund. Gurmeet had compassionate concern for the treatment of innocent Punjabi refugees who were asking for political asylum in the United States. The refugees were being incarcerated in the Alameda County Jail Santa Rita. Some had been severely tortured in India and needed medical and psychological care. At that time these unfortunate souls were being treated as criminals and were being held in maximum security with murderers.

Gurmeet is a leader of the Sikh Community in the bay Area. He recently was very happy to have been able to help facilitate and attend a meeting at the California Department of Justice between Simranjit singh Mann, Member of the Indian Parliament and Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

Charan Singh Lohara, Vice President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (S.A.D.) Political Party, Ajitinder Singh Mofar, Member of the Legislature of the State of Punjab, Simranjit Singh Mann, M.P., Bill Lockyer, AG , Ram Singh, Commissioner, City of Milpitas and Gurmeet Sigh Khalsa, President of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) (USA)

After the meeting Gurmeet says good-bye to Mr. Mann

Ram Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khalsa, Balbir Singh and me Bob Swanson
in front of the California Department of Justice

SIMRANJIT SINGH MANN, M.P. - Member of the Indian Parliament
Mr. Mann Meets California Attorney General Bill Lockyer in Sacramento
Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele Welcomes Mr. Mann

Gurmeet's Son Meets Attorney General Bill Lockyer
Gurmeet brought his son Keerat to meet Bill Lockyer at the Hayward St. Patrick's Day Celebration. Bill Lockyer was the Guest of Honor and Keerat was very excited about having his picture taken with Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

Keerat is a Sophomore at Hayward High School. He was elected Sophomore Class Secretary and serves as Secretary of California Scholarship Federation (C.S.F.) Keerat represents Hayward High School at the C.S.F. state wide assemblies.

Keerat was appointed to the City of Hayward Youth Commission. he was sworn in Tuesday 8:00 PM June 6th 2000 by the Hayward City Clerk at the Hayward City Council meeting. Keerat is the first Sikh to serve on a Hayward Commission.
GoTo: Keerat Singh - The First Sikh Appointed to a Hayward Commission - Wednesday, June 7, 2000

Great Sadness Strikes the Sikh Community
with the assassination of
Ajmer Singh Malhi
Oakland High School Math Teacher and a Sikh Leader

Gurmeet attends Contra Costa County Court hearing of the Assassin
of his dear friend Ajmer. Gurmeet and Ajmer worked together on issues
that effect the Sikh community. GoTo: Ajmer Singh Malhi Home Page

(Photo Don Richey/For The Chronicle) Gurmeet Singh Khalsa a True Hero In 1994 on the verandah of the Fremont Sikh Temple a gunman shot a worshiper and ran. Gurmeet an officer of the Temple, without regard for his own life, he gave chase. The gunmen in a frantic effort to escape shot at Gurmeet and Gurmeet ducked and then continued the chase. The Gunman Shot point blank at Gurmeet and the bullet miraculously struck Gurmeet's Sacred Kirpan and saved his life. The Gunman was arrested by the Fremont Police. GoTo: San Francisco Chronicle - Monday October 10, 1994

Gurmeet Helps Me and My Family Shortly after the shooting at the Sikh Temple, my family was struck by great sadness. My Mother passed away and I had to leave for Chicago to bury my Mother and deal with family affairs. During my unexpected 4 month stay in Chicago my wife was left here in Castro Valley alone. My wife, on her way home from work had a problem with our car. The front pulleys on the engine blew apart. She called me and I told her to give Gurmeet a call and ask if he could help.

Gurmeet Showed up with a tow truck and towed the car to his shop. He bought the parts, repaired the car and returned it to my wife. When I finally got home from Chicago I thanked Gurmeet for all his help and asked him what I owed him. He would not take a dime for all the work he did. I said at least let me pay for the towing. He said no you owe me nothing.

This story is not unusual as he has helped so many in need.

Gurmeet is a spiritual man. He believes in the Spiritual concept of Seva (selfless deeds done for God not profit). If one needs help Gurmeet is the person to go to. Thank You Gurmeet!

What is Gurmeet Doing Now?

Gurmeet is currently studying the new problem of Sikh/Punjabi youth gangs forming in Southern Alameda County. This is a new situation that the Sikh Community has not had to deal with in the past. He is forming a group of concerned Sikh parents, meeting with Hayward Police and is learning about the D.A.R.E. program.

Posted by: Bob Swanson bswanson@prado.com