ਦੇਗ ਤੇਗ ਫ਼ਤਿਹ
ਖ਼ਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ ਜਿ਼ੰਦਾਬਾਦ

During a meeting in Holt, California in 1911, Sikhs from across the state decided to establish a Sikh religious center. The following year, in 1912, Sikhs purchased land in South Stockton to build a gurdwara – or a Sikh religious, social, political, and educational institution. The construction of Stockton Gurdwara not only served the spiritual needs of Sikh immigrants but was an important resource for all South Asian immigrants in the early 20th century. 

Stockton Gurdwara was a community institution. It held many roles in the Stockton and California Sikh communities. For example, it is the home of the Ghadari Babey and was instrumental in the movement for a free homeland during the British colonization of Panjab. It also funded South Asian students at UC Berkeley by starting a scholarship program. It also provided (and still provides) free meals to all those who were hungry, through its community kitchen called langar.

Until the late 1940s, Stockton was the only gurdwara in the United States. Stockton Gurdwara is associated with nationally significant figures in American history – Bhagat Singh Thind and Congressman Dalip Singh Saund. Thind was the first Sikh and turban wearing individual to serve in the U.S. Army. Congressman Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian American and first – and so far only – Sikh to serve in the House of Representatives, when elected in 1956.