On May 23, 1992 the Chatha Family left Hawkins in their car and drove more than three thousand miles.
In this one month journey, they saw the beauty of land, planted green fields, rivers and lakes, high hills, miles long tunnels, big trees, beautiful flowers, animals walking and grazing on the farms and valleys, birds singing in the trees, ducks and cranes flying in the skies, smoke drifting from chimneys, farmers in their fields, small towns, suburbs, high traffic on the highways, hustle and bustle of people and congestion in big cities. The Chathas also enjoyed the courtesy and friendship of the people in all the places they visited. Last of all, they will not forget the educational experiences of their lives.
Prof. Chatha spoke to several gurdwaras on basic Sikh Principles of Oneness of God, Universal Brotherhood of mankind, Understanding of one another, with most emphasis on Peace,
In June, at the request of Sikh Sangat of Winnipeg, Manitoba, he helped in developing a 31 minute Video for a TV Educational Program “Voice of Khalsa” in Panjabi Language. The theme of the program is “Sikhism, North America and Its Future.”
On August 19,1992, at the request of Sangat Sikh Temple (Gurdwara Sikh Center Gulf Coast, Houston), Prof. Chatha addressed the peaceful Sikh Rally at the 92-Republican Convention Center in Houston, Texas. He presented the Sikhs as friends of America, believers in one God, who is the God of all human beings and the Sikh belief in achieving god through service of humanity and seeing Him in human life.
He also emphasized that struggle for freedom in United States and Sikh Nation started at the same time. Sikh Nation under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and United States under the leadership of Late President Martin Van Bueren and other late presidents became very friendly. Ranjit Singh appointed two U.S. citizens as Governors of his states and also appointed Col .Alexander, an American, commander of his Royal Guards, The relations became so cordial that it attracted American church to send Reverend Lowery to Sikh Maharaja and help Sikh Nation to strengthen their Faith. Rev. Lowery gave first wooden Punjabi Press to Maharaja to make it possible for the Sikh Nation to print their Holy Book, Shri Guru Granth Sahib. He also started a Missionary English School at the wish of Maharaja.
Sikhs have shared with United States the strong Work Ethic, Strong defence for peace ideology and so on…Sikhs are a working society and close friends of American people. In June 1984, Dallas Morning compared them to 17 century settlers in United States.
At present, the situation in Punjab, Sikh home and land have gone from bad to worse, politically. Indian Government have denied them freedoms and even human rights don’t exist. Sikhs are reaching their old trusted friend American People, Congress, Senate and the President of United States to help them settle in their New Homeland for their survival, They also request America to help them in their main homeland Punjab, they call Khalistan, to achieve freedom from India as was promised by Mahatma Gandhi and Shri Nehru at the time of India’s struggle for Independence from Britain.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 25, 1992
