The twenty fifth anniversary of Late S. Mehnga S. Takhar was celebrated with Akhand Pathh Bhog on November 30th at Caruthers Sikh Temple. People from all parts of California came to pay homage to the deceased, After Kirtan by various Gianis, the Sangat was entertained by famous Punjabi folk singers, Gurcharan Pohli, Promilla Pammi and their entourage with dharmak geets.
- Mehnga Singh was born on April 26, 1918 at village Shankar, district Jullundur. He took his matrimonial vows with Sardarni Harbans Kaur Shergill of Jamsher Khas Jullundur. He graduated from Arya High School Nakodar in 1937,
There was only two vistas open for high school graduates to become clerk or join the army -in the British ruled India. He joined the British army and was sent to China where he was assigned to special intelligence unit. They were captured and imprisoned by the Japanese for three years. Perhaps the biggest challenge of his early adult life was to abide by Master Tara Singh’s sanctimonious edict of not exchanging turbans for helmets. They refused to wear helmets even though Master Tara Singh told them to wear helmets. They were jailed but later released by the British with full honors in 1947. These young Sikh stalwarts never forgave Master Tara Singh for his dichotomous and erroneous political shifts.
He migrated to the U.S. in December 1949. There were a handful of Indian Immigrants who were clustered around Imperial Valley, Mendota Stockton and Yuba City. He moved to Mendota area in 1951 and worked for Russell Giffen as an irrigation foreman for a couple of years. He had lots of respect for the freedom fighters and their sacrifices. Thus he became very popular with Gaddar party members. Working under the supervision of Mehar Singh Sighera, he assisted in distribution of funds to the survivors of Ghaddar party in India. He was one of the few educated immigrants of that era, and as such he was very helpful to everyone with routine and legal chores.
Mr. Sumner Peck (Giffen’s son-in-law) saw an ambitious, fearless, honest and hardworking individual who openly defied the ordinary challenges of life. He took him to his 5,500 acre farm in 1953 as an irrigation foreman. Our father changed the face and fortunes of Sumner Peck Farms by hard work and shrewd agricultural practices. Subsequently he was appointed Ranch foreman in 1957. He has been the only immigrant to supervise such a vast farming operation.
He often used to say, “I never want to see even my great grandchildren live under the slavery of another nation. “Education is the only means of safeguarding liberty and standard of living. It is an individual’s private property that defies laws of destruction. Success in life is inversely proportional to higher education. Thus he convened his boss to give Christmas bonuses to students (who worked during summer vacation) to defray tuition costs of spring semester. This was the only program of its kind in the U.S.
He was a simple man who cherished honesty. He was always on the side of a poor man. He believed that social respect should be meritoriously earned and not bought with money. A man should strive for social remembrance and not be sulfide by stigmas. A man should not be fooled by the apocryphal social titles. That is why he decided not to accept the pseudo accolade offers of presidency of Stockton Sikh Temple. He would say, “Today you are showering me with honesty, tomorrow I will be labeled as the biggest Chester.”
These were some aspirations of a man who accomplished so much ina short period of time. He passed away on October 28, 1963 in a car accident. He is survived by his widow, Harbans Kaur Takhar; a daughter Mrs. Ravinder Takhar Singh; a son, Aynel, and two grandchildren, Andrea and Paul Takhar. In memorial we eulogize,
“Masses traverse this planet every day, but a few leave indelible mark with pride.”
Article extracted from this publication >> November 25, 1988
