Sardar Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, of El Sobranie, California, passed away on October 11, 1994, Last rites were performed on Oct, 14, 1994, at the Sunset View Cemetery in fill Cerrito an event that was attended by a large gathering of grievous family and friends. After the bhog of Akhand Path, Kirtan and Antam Ardaas were held at the El Sobrante Gurdwara Sahib on Sunday, October 16, 1994.
Sardar Sukhbir Singh was born in 1929 in the well-known Sandhu family of Sarhali Kalan, tehsil Tam Taran, district Amritsar. Father Ranjit Singh and mother Kirpal Kaur were blessed with three other
sons and three daughters, Sardar Sukhbir Singh’s elder brother, Sardar Balbir Singh Sandhu of San Francisco, who died just two and a half years ago, was highly regarded amongst the earlier Sikh settlers of California.
Sardar Sukhbir Singh emigrated to the United States in 1967 and settled in the Bay Area region of California. Being a devout Sikh, he became the central figure amongst the small Bay Area Sikh community of that time for the purposes of holding religious and cultural gatherings. He was instrumental in initiating the efforts for building a gurdwara in the Bay Area. Along with several other sewadars of the time, he worked tirelessly to collect donations, acquire land and help build the first phase of the El Sobrante Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh Center of Bay Area). The Kirtan and Antam Ardaas on Oct. 16 was attended by nearly 500 of Sardar Sukhbir Singh’s family and friends, Following Bhai Parmject Singh ji’s offering on gurbani’s perspective on death and the righteous life, eulogies were offered by four of Sardar Sandhu’s close friends and relatives, Sardar Basant Singh Sandhu, a cousin of Sardar Sukhbir Singh, provided a perspective of the Sandhu family background. Sardar Santokh Singh Kahlon spoke about Sardar Sukhbir Singh’s loving and canng persona and how it affected all those that came in touch with him. He also explained Sardar Sukhbir Singh’s strength of character by the exposure he received at an early age to Baba Vaisakha Singh and Baba Tara Singh two towering Sikh personalities of Sarhali Tarm Taran region, Sardar Amarjit Singh Bal spoke about the multitude of Sardar Sandhu’s contributions to the local community. In the end, Dr. Sukhmander Singh offered an emotional tribute to Sardar Sukhbir Singh by not only recounting his unique place amongst the original sewadars of the El Sobrante Gurdwara Sahib that of the conciliator that kept the group together during contentious times but also by evoking Bhai Gurdas ji to illustrate how Sardar Sukhbir Singh exemplified a true Sikh a humble sewak.
Amongst other friends of Sardar Sukhbir Singh present to console the family were Dr. J. P. Singh, Sardar Mohan Singh Randhawa, Sardar Harbhajan Singh Grewal, Sardami Gurbux Kaur Kahlony Sardar Jaswant Singh Bhatth Sardar Baldev Singh Mahal, Sardar Aviar Singh Virdi, Sardar Jamail Singh Thiara, and many, many more whose names, regrettably, cannot be mentioned due to lack of space.
Sardar Sukhbir Singh is survived by his wife, Sardami Birinder Kaur, one son, Harpreet Singh Sandhu, daughter-in-law, Inderpreet Kaur, and three grandchildren. In addition to the three Sandhu families of his brothers, Sardar Sandhu’s extended family includes the Pannu, Sher gill and Bal families of his three sisters as well all mainly residing in the Bay Area. (Submitted by Ravinder Singh Sher gill).
Article extracted from this publication >> October 28, 1994
