REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 31, 2017
FROM: OLIVER L. BAINES, III, District 3 Councilmember
City Council Offices
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Renaming the park at Clinton and Brawley the “Jaswant Singh Khalra Park”
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the Council finds it necessary and appropriate in renaming the park at the corner of Clinton and Brawley to the “Jaswant Singh Khalra Park.”
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City of Fresno (City) owns the park at the corner of Clinton and Brawley currently known as the Victoria West Park. The Fresno Punjabi community is nearly unanimous in their desire to name the park after Khalra and Councilmember Baines fully supports their efforts. This resolution will allow the Fresno Punjabi community along with other diverse populations of the surrounding neighborhood to celebrate Khalra’s life while preserving his legacy.
BACKGROUND
Jaswant Singh Khalra (1952-1995) was a human rights activist from Punjab (India). Born in 1952 and the grandson of Harnam Singh, a well-known freedom fighter who fought against British colonialism and Canadian white supremacists, Jaswant Singh was always wedded to social justice causes. He was a student activist during his collegiate years and his spirit for standing up for the oppressed never left him. By his late 30’s, Jaswant Singh worked as a Bank Director in Punjab and was married to Paramjit Kaur. They had two children; a son named Janmeet and a daughter named Navkiran. Life had been good personally but he was not immune to the injustices around him.
Jaswant Singh Khalra fought for the victims and their families, as well as, being committed to telling their stories regardless the consequences it caused him. He sought justice in India’s legal courts and took the cases of the wrongfully killed to other people’s courts throughout the world, including the Canadian Parliament. His work was widely heralded by Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
On September 6, 1995, Jaswant Singh Khalra was picked up outside of his home by the Punjab Police under the direct orders of the Director General of Police. Days later he was tortured and killed, his body was never returned to his family.
Jaswant Singh Khalra’s life is a symbol of hope for all that care about human rights, dignity, truth, and justice. Naming the park in his honor preserves his legacy and celebrates his values that are cherished in the Fresno Punjabi community. The Khalra family has an intimate link with the City of Fresno. Navkiran Kaur the daughter of Khalra is an alumnus of Fresno State and frequently visits the city. She is very well-known in the city and volunteers locally. The Punjabi Sikh community is unanimous in their desire to honor Jaswant Singh Khalra and upholding his legacy as guiding principles in their lives for the well-being and care of their neighbors and community.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
N/A
LOCAL PREFERENCE
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT
N/A
Attachment: Resolution