Friends of the Madden Library

Parminder Singh of Kingsburg will be the third speaker in the “Faces of the Valley” series sponsored by the Friends of the Madden Library at California State University, Fresno, on March 4. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. and the program at 6:30 p.m. in the Library.

Singh will speak on the Sikh and Punjabi communities in the Central Valley, describing the distinctions between the two groups and their migration to California. His presentation is titled “From the breadbasket of India to the breadbasket of America: Migration of the Sikhs and Punjabis from Punjab, India, to the Central Valley.” 

He will discuss motivations for settling in the Valley, as well as problems and stereotypes the Sikhs and Punjabis faced during their early migration and today.

Topics covered will include the Sikh and Punjabi work ethic and commitment to family values and education, their transition from working as laborers to ranching and professional occupations, and the social impact these groups have in the region.

Singh was born and raised in Nottingham, England, to parents from Punjab, India. In 1988, his family moved to the Central Valley, and they now farm Thompson seedless grapes in Kingsburg. Singh earned a bachelor’s degree in functional biology from Fresno State. He is a senior chemist with BSK Analytical Laboratories.

Reservations can be made by calling 278-5790 prior to Feb. 28. Admission is free for Friends of the Library members, $2 for nonmembers and $1 for students.

A sign-language interpreter will be provided upon advance request. For more information call 278-5790.