Punjabi-american Heritage Society celebrates founder’s 100th birthday
A few weeks ago, the Punjabi American Heritage Society celebrated the 100th Birthday of its founding and honorary member,
Dr. Gulzar Singh Johl.
Johl, born in 1923 in Horshipur, Punjab, came to the USA in 1948.
He followed the call of his father, “Tully” Singh Johl, who had with fellow landsmen, come to this area via the Panama Canal and Mexico in the 1930’s and worked as a farm laborer.
Upon arrival, Johl first enrolled at Yuba College (then a two-year institution), and later at Sacramento State College. From there he went on to get a master’s degree from Chico State, followed by the Osteopathic college of Irvine, now UC Irvine, where he received his medical degree.
He had opportunities to practice anywhere, but he chose to return to Yuba City, which he considered his home.
Twelve years after leaving India he was joined by his wife and their two sons, by then teenagers, Piara Singh and
Malkiat Singh.
Since then Johl has maintained an ophthalmology practice on the outskirts of
Yuba City, serving literally thousands of local residents with his considerable skills.
Johl and his family are also farmers, promptly working the land before and after office hours.
What has made his life so special and unique and what inspires those around him to honor and respect him are his unwavering human values.
As a Sikh, he practices not only the daily reading of prayers, but he has maintained an indeed rare standard: for 100 years he has never had any alcohol, never ate meat or taken any drugs (only a mild heart medication nowadays).
As a vital and active member of the Sikh community, he has given immense support to the Tierra Buena Sikh Temple, both via his spiritual strength as well as hard labor planting trees and more. His profound grasp of the tenets of the Sikh religion make him rare and valuable indeed.