In a significant decision, the Central Unified School Board in Fresno, California, has approved the naming of a new elementary school in honor of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a respected Sikh human rights activist.
During a board meeting on Jan. 28, members voted 6-0 in favor of naming the school at Shields and Brawley as Jaswant Singh Khalra Elementary School, with one member abstaining. The decision marks a significant milestone, as officials state this will be the first public school in the nation to be named after an individual of Sikh descent.
Khalra, who was known for his groundbreaking investigations into thousands of illegal killings and disappearances in India, was abducted and murdered by Punjab police in 1995. His efforts in exposing human rights violations made him an enduring figure in the global fight for justice.
Board members emphasized Khalra’s importance to the Punjabi community in the Central Valley, noting that his daughter attended Fresno State and that his family has ties to the area. His legacy had previously been recognized in 2017 when a park at Clinton and Brawley was renamed in his honor.
The decision has sparked widespread celebration within the Sikh-Punjabi community. Popular Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh took to Instagram to share his reaction and called the move "historic," congratulating Central Unified School District and praising the recognition of the Sikh-Punjabi community’s contributions to Fresno’s cultural fabric.
Khalra's investigative work, which uncovered the illegal killings and cremations of over 25,000 individuals—including 2,000 police officers who refused to comply—brought international attention to human rights violations in India. His abduction and murder in 1995 led to the conviction and sentencing of six Punjab police officials years later.
Dosanjh is also bringing Khalra’s story to the big screen in an upcoming biopic, Punjab 95, where he will portray the late activist. The film, directed by Honey Trehan, aims to shed light on Khalra’s fearless fight for justice and the sacrifices he made. It will release internationally on Feb.7, 2025.
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