Remembering Hari Singh Everest
Guestblogged by Mewa Singh.
A young and vibrant community in the diaspora, it is incumbent upon us to remember our trailblazers. Hari Singh Everest was one such person. I remember reading his name during my undergraduate days. Stumbling across the ‘Sikh Review’, when I should have been completing other studies, it was the first time I had read a literate Sikh journal in English. Skimming the names of editors and contributors on the back, I noticed one from my very own California – Yuba City to be exact. Hari Singh Everest. I didn’t know him, but the unusual last name stuck in my head.
It would be years later when I finally met him. Some years ago the Jakara Movement decided to sponsor the efforts of all the collegitate Californian Sikh Students Associations (SSAs) in building a unity float. Since then, the float at the Yuba City Nagar Kirtan has become an annual affair.. The Everest Family graciously opened their home and it was on one such opportunity that I got to sit down with Hari Singh and speak to him. I mentioned that I had read his name on that Sikh Review issue years ago and he smiled. He talked about his experiences in the Sikh community and as being a sort of ambassador during those early years. It is a conversation I cherish.
His life in the United States stretches back to the 1950s (before the ‘Great Society’ immigration policy of LBJ) and his life in Yuba City goes back to 1961.
5 Responses to “Remembering Hari Singh Everest”
Our "Pita Ji" gave us so much and asked for so little. We are so blessed to have shared our lives with him, and will continue to celebrate his life now that his soul has left this physical world to join our eternal Guru. From my entire family, thank you for posting this.
Pitaji did ask us as young Sikhs to go out into the world, make ourselves a part of it. I first met him in 1987, and he was very encouraging – go to college and get educated, which I did. Upon his guidance, and that of others in the Yuba – Sutter area, I decided after law school to open up an office in Marysville and become the first visible Sikh in the area practicing law. Enough about me. Pitaji said to get involved, be on the school board, the city council, the PTA, and even if he did not drive a car, he knew all the people and in fact they knew of him who were the movers and shakers in the whole of California. His name and reputation lives on. My condolences to the family, and to the community that he has passed. We wil remember him as we do Dave Teja, another pioneer.
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Where does his surname derive from??? Everest???