W.S.N. Fresno Bureau) FRESNO, CA: June 2nd was business as usual at Guddi Sidhu’s house. As scheduled, Mr. Harbhajan Singh Dhillon, president of the prestigious Punjabi Sahit Sabha declared the meeting open at 2 p.m. The festival like occasion was supposed to be a memorable moment, for every Punjabi poet and writer, who attended Sabha’s quarterly meeting. For four hours 27 Punjabi geniuses presented their work on Punjabi literature.
After the emotionally charged, but fun filled meeting ended, the Punjabi writers exchanged good wishes and made promises to meet again during next meeting. Some of them thanked Guddi Sidhu for being the host for the meeting. After it was all over everybody started getting into their cars to go back to their homes nobody could anticipate what was in store for few of them. Some left for LA, others for Sacramento, and Yuba City, Bay area or other cities.
Another group of five got into a Toyota Previa Van and headed toward San Jose, All of them were talking and joking. At one time driver, Seerat appeared tired and Sukhminder Singh volunteered to drive. However, as they were only a mile or two away from their destination, tragedy struck. The van swerved while taking an exit and bumped against the curb close to Capitol expressway and freeway 101 near San Jose. The van rolled over two times before coming to a halt, according to California Highway Patrol. It was totaled.
During this ill-fated drive everybody was wearing seat belts, except Giani Isher Singh Baksh, a 73yearold Saintly person who migrated to U.S.A. only 6 months ago. He was ejected out of rear window, suffered serious head injuries and was gasping in a pool of blood when paramedics arrived, they failed to resuscitate him and he was declared dead on the spot, according to C.H.P. His body was flown to his native town in the troubled state of Kashmir and cremated with full Sikh rites.
The driver, 39yearold Sukhwinder Sukhi and other injured passengers including Surinder Seerat 46, Jagir Singh Duma66, Kehar Azad Jalandhri 63, were taken to a local hospital. All were released after first aid treatment. However Jagir Singh Durna who came to U.S.A. only four months ago suffered rib fractures and other bodily injuries. He underwent an operation and was reported to be in stable condition at the present time. Visibly shaken Seerat felt guilty as it was he who invited Baksh for the poet’s meeting in Fresno.
Giani Isher Singh Baksh cone poem during Sabha’s meeting offered critiques to Guddi Sidhu’s” short story ° ‘BAL Wassi” he exhorted Punjabi writers to write quality work in order to improve Punjabi image in the world.
During get together meeting Baksh shared his philosophical experience during his air travel from Delhi to San Francisco. He said that in the plane he thought he will never come out alive as he felt his feet slipping backwards, astonishment turned in reality only after a few hours. During Sabha’s meeting he also distributed the copies of his book “Chaar Yaar.”
Condolences;
Dr. Gurmail Singh Sidhu President of Sabha’s local chapter expressed sorrow over the tragedy. He reported an inspiring influence after his brief discussion with the deceased. Guddi Sidhu also expressed dismay and surprise at the unexpected and tragic loss to Punjabi lovers in the death of Giani Ji.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1996
