Dalip Singh Saund

Born in 1899 in Punjab, Dalip Singh Saund – the first Asian American elected to U.S. Congress – immigrated to the United States in 1920 to study at UC Berkeley, earning a doctorate degree in Mathematics in May 1924. For the next 25 years, Saund worked as a farmer and chemical fertilizer distributor in California’s Imperial Valley. An active member of the Hindustani Association of America, Saund petitioned U.S. Congress to grant citizenship rights to Asian Indians living in the United States. Finding support from Congresswoman Clare Booth Luce (CT) and Congressman Emanuel Cellar (NY), the Luce-Cellar Bill passed in both houses in 1943, making Asian Indians eligible for citizenship. In the face of racist threats and anti-immigrant bashing, Saund ran for U.S. Congress from the 29th California District in 1956. He went on to serve three terms.