STOCKTONCA: S. Didar Singh Bainsand S. Lakhbir Singh Chima was unanimously elected the new Chairman & President of World Sikh News at the Board of directors meeting held here on March 21, 1992. He — succeeded Dr. Gurinder Singh Grewal who had been on this position since December 1984. Chima was currently Senior Vice-President.

The newest Chairman of WSN is the distinguished business man and farmer Didar S.Bains of Yuba City CA. Bains was the founder president of the World Sikh Organization which began in 1984 to commemorate the Golden Temple atrocities Since that time Bains and W.S.O. has worked tirelessly on the frontline for Khalistan generously supporting militant organizations in their fight for freedom.

Bains has contributed generously to Sikh causes. He has been a stalwart supporter of Gurdwaras nationwide and has been the main financial backer of a beautiful building in Washington D.C. that is currently serving as a Sikh “Embassy.” His contributions and reputation were also most instrumental in gaining the support of Wally Heger to sponsor a recent bill critical of India’s human right violations in the Punjab.

We offer our congratulations to Mr.Bains & Mr.Chima.

World Sikh News was launched in 1984 in the aftermath of Indian Governments brutal attack on the Golden Temple and indiscriminate massacre of the Sikhs in Delhi. From day one it has remained a very vocal champion of the Sikh cause and has been extending full support to the freedom fighters in the Punjab. It has the distinction of close and active association with persons directly involved in the Struggle and has always been perceived as the mouth-piece of the movement.

Chima’s appointment is an experienced and untiring professional and political maturity to develop a direction compatible with the Sikh Nations aspirations and its current crusade for freedom in the Punjab and also with the activists in the thick of liberating the shackled nation.

Chimas recent appointment as anti-crime commissioner by California’s Lieutenant Governor Leo McCarthy reflects his status and contribution to constructive programs both for the community and the State. It is a recognition of the role he has been playing as a professional as a social worker and as a promoter of the right causes.

Chima came to the U.S.A. in 1954 as a student and graduated in Civil Engineering and became a licensed professional engineer for California Washington Oregon Nevada and Illinois. He worked in various positions and projects before establishing his own engineering corporation known as Valley Soils Engineering Corporation in South Pasadena California. As a soil engineer he has been a key figure in the construction of numerous Malls and shopping centers in California Washington Nevada and Oregon.

In 1982 Chima hosted at his residence fund-raiser for the then Governor of California Edmund G. Brown to support his bid for the Senate and presented $20000 to the Governor. His Sikh friends came to attend from Yuba City Fresno Carona and San Francisco

Chimas contribution to the community affairs has been singularly unique As President and Chairman of the Sikh Study Circle Vermont Hollywood from 1980 to 1983 he infused anew life in the circle In 1984 Chima as one of the members of the World Sikh Organization foiled the attempt of the certain pro-Indian forces who were bent upon sabotaging the fledgling organization by offering his house to facilitate the drafting of WSO constitution If he had not offered his house at that critical juncture the miscreants might have succeeded in scuttling the meeting.

Chima was appointed an interim President of World Sikh Organization after the resignation of Ganga Singh Dhillon and he declined to be considered for regular appointment because of his busy professional schedule He however was elected Vice-President in charge of the western zone.

Chima has been generously contributing money to almost ever community activity and sponsored a number of fund raising functions to support World Sikh News and WSO In February 1988 he organized a fund-raiser for WSN at the YMCA Hall Burbank where collections touched approximately $40000 and in August 1988 hosted a WSO Los Angeles chapter meeting at his residence which was attended by 150 members and their families.

Chimas expressed their gratitude to Congressman Wally Herger on behalf of the Sikh Community. Hon Herger has been a front-rank supporter of the Sikhs. He moved a bill in the House of Representatives for the suspension of 25 million dollar aid to India till the Human Rights and civil liberties of the Sikhs in the Punjab were not fully restored. As Senior Vice-President of WSN Chima played a key role in honoring Zuhair Kashmiri and Brian Mc Andrew co-authors of the book Soft Target Zuhair and Brian are staff Correspondents for Canadas premier daily The Globe and the Mail and have produced a well-researched and extensively documented book exposing Indian governments covert actions in discrediting the Sikhs such as blowing up of the Air India Boeing by Indian Consulates own agents just to project peace loving Sikhs of North America as trigger-happy extremists.

Chima invariably plays host to distinguished visitors from the Punjab. Late Bimla Kaur Khalsa Member Parliament and window of the Martyr Beant Singh stayed with him during her visit to U.S.A. Other prominent figures that were honored by him include S.D S. Gill President Punjab Human Rights Organization.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 24, 1992