Sukh Purewal family

ʻThe freedom and opportunity to do anything.ʼ

For Sukh Purewal’s family, becoming Americans took more than hard work and good timing – it took family support.

Purewal’s mom, Sarabjit, and dad, Gurcharan, moved from India to England where they embarked on their final leg of emigration to the U.S. – she in 1988 and he in 1990. Sarabjit was pregnant with Purewal when she made the journey, but had family in Yuba City waiting to welcome her.

“It was cool because her three brothers were here so she had a lot of support,” Purewal said.

Purewal’s grandmother and uncles helped raise him until his dad was granted political asylum. His uncle, Rashpal Dosanjh, was the first to come to the U.S. and had connections with other Yuba City immigrant laborers and landowners.

“He helped a lot of people get on their feet,” Purewal said. “He had the whole system to bring everyone here.”

And for three years, 12 family members squeezed into a threebedroom, two-bathroom home while working agriculture jobs and supporting each other. Finally, Purewal’s parents were able to save up and move out on their own to raise Purewal and his two younger siblings (brother Sunny and sister Amanpreet). But he had to step up too: while mom and dad worked multiple jobs, he had to help take care of his siblings.

Purewal said being born an American means sometimes taking for granted how hard immigrant parents worked to give their children a better life.

“That’s why Indian people are generally so attached to their parents,” Purewal said. “Their parents did everything for them.”

He said his parents taught him work ethic, and visits to India are humbling and put into perspective the quality of life he and his family live today.

Purewal graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in administration; he’s currently the administrative analyst to the Sutter County Board of Supervisors. He’s applying to schools to obtain his master’s degree, and plans to one day become the county administrative officer.

Purewal said celebrating Independence Day is about reflecting on what it means to be American.

“If you work extremely hard, the opportunities are endless,” he said. “(America is) the freedom and opportunity to do anything you put your mind to.”