Sikh Center Houston Gurdwara

FIRST GURDAWARA IN SOUTHERN USA HOUSTON

 BACKGROUND

Houston is the fourth coast of the USA. The southern tip on the Gulf of Mexico. Most immigrants to USA came from Europe via New York, the East Coast on the Atlantic Ocean. The early Sikh wave of immigrants came to the West Coast on the Pacific Ocean about a century ago. The link from East Coast to West Coast was through the major mid West City of Chicago. Chicago is on the Great Lakes and is the third coast of America. Houston, the fourth coast in the south was still a “Frontier.” The modern wave of immigrants after the liberalization of immigration laws was in seventies and after. In the early seventies, Houston was still a laid back cowboy country town with very little population of immigrants. In early seventies, the boom in oil and gas and energy fields created lots of engineering jobs in Houston. Also establishment of Texas Medical Center, the worlds largest medical establishment started attracting doctors. That was the time when Sikh Engineers and doctors starting trickling down to Houston. In early seventies there were hardly a dozen Sikh families in Houston.

BEGINNINGS

It was in 1971 that this handful of Sikh families got together and held their first Diwan. No body had “Guru Granth Sahib” Guru Granth Sahib ji’s Bir was brought from Dallas. Then second Diwan was held after one year in July 1972. Then again in August 1972. It was then that a decision was made to float an organization to organize monthly Diwans at volunteer family’s residences. The Sikh Center of Gulf Coast Area, Inc. a non-profit body was set up. Interestingly, there was a visionary thought process in naming this organization. The word “Center” came from Jewish Community Center, representing a comprehensive model, to satisfy not only religious needs of the Sikh Community, but also to be a platform for social, cultural, educational needs too. The other key words were “Gulf Coast Area”. The Sikh settlers in the south were so few, that the organization took upon itself to provide the religious anchor to very few but scattered Sikh families in the entire Gulf Coast Area. In early days, the Sikh Sangat of Houston used to provide religious, cultural and social support to Sikhs all over in Texas, and Louisiana (Baton Rouge, New Orleans). Even today when many communities have grown and have their own established organizations, far flung communities in Texas Rio Grande Valley are still supported by Houston.

OPENING

In May 1973, a Gurdawara Building Fund was started. There was tremendous opposition, because some people wanted to have a common Indian Community Multiple Purpose Hall, that could be used as Gurdawara, Mandir, Masjid, and even for parties. Such a concept was repugnant to the sanctity of a Gurdawara. This opposition rather firmed up the resolve and accelerated the effort to build a Gurdawara.
Since there was no spot in vast Greater Houston Area that could claim the concentration of Sikh residences, location was decided on futuristic visionary factors such as Highway Planning, Flood Control Planing, future expansion trends of the metropolitan area etc. An earnest 6-week search for about 2 acres tract in the NW sector within the proposed Beltway 8 resulted in purchase of the present site in October 1973. Interestingly, Sikh population in Houston has grown from a dozen to about 1000 families, but 70% of them live within 7 mile radius of this site. Over the next four week ends, by Kar Sewa, a 20’x40’ hall was built and the Gurdawara Sahib was inaugurated on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday Purab in 1973. The following incidents are worth recording:
(1) When buying the 1.9-acre tract, our budget was $10,000, but the lot was listed for $20,000. The Realtor sent our offer to the owner in Pennsylvania via Western Union, stating that these people are Sikhs and want to make their church. The owner accepted the offer and replied, ”Don’t call it church, it is a Gurdawara.”
(2) The then Mayor of Houston was approached to issue a Proclamation declaring the Inauguration Day as “Sikh Day”. He asked what have the Sikhs done for Houston. The reply given was that world most unique project of building an oil pipeline in permafrost of Alaska is being engineered in Houston, and the Project Manager is a Sikh, then again, a Sikh is a lead programmer in NASA, for developing the Moon Landing Software; and then again Houston based “Brown & Root” is worlds biggest EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) Company and they are designing and building worlds biggest nuclear plant for Houston, and their Piping Engineering Manager is a Sikh. The Mayor issued a proclamation declaring it a Guru Nanak and Sikh Day.
(3) When the Gurdawara was opened, the news was covered extensively not only by local Press and media, but also by national TV ABC. The theme of the coverage was, ”It is First time that the religious horizon in Houston has been expanded beyond Judo-Christianity. Theirs is a religion of Love.”
(4) Inviting Muslims, Hindus and Christian friends to come and drive nails for building foundation started the construction of the Gurdawara.
(5) Guru Jis Bir was always brought along during the construction phases as our living guru to guide us.

FIRE, RECONSTRUCTION & FUTURE PLANS

In June 1974, as HE Wills, the gurdawara building caught fire because of lightening. The building was completely destroyed, but miraculously, Guru Granth Sahib had minimal damage, only the borders and Table of contents were burnt. New Architectural plans were drawn for a two story steel construction. The building was built in phases consistent with fund raising efforts. For reconstruction of Gurdawara building, Sikh Sangats from all over the USA and even Canada sent monetary help. The ground floor was completed and opened as Phase I, commemorating 300th Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Then second story was added, residence for Bhai Sahib and Schoolrooms were added. Currently, the Sikh Center has acquired a n adjacent house on 1 acre lot and converted it to Residence and School and has also acquired 5 acres of adjoining land. In 1998, the Sikh Center celebrated 25th – Silver Anniversary.

ACTIVITIES

The Sikh Center/Sikh Sangat has been engaging in multifarious activities – Religious Propagation, Educational and Cultural. All the following activities have been performed at one time or another:
1. Celebrations of Gurpurabs.
2. Regular Diwans on Sundays and Wednesdays
3. Langar after every Darbar
4. Akhand Paaths
5. Marriage Ceremonies
6. Ren Sabai Kirtans
7. Arranging Famous Raagi Jathas and Kathakars
8. Sunday School
9. Kirtan Classes
10. Youth Competition
11. Participation in Hemkund International Competition
12. Sikh Youth Camps
13. Sikh Youth Retreats
14. Sikh Study Circles
15. Sikh Youth Sports Clubs
16. Adult Seminars
17. Radio Program – Gurbanee Veechar
18. Mini Resource Center, to supply tapes CDs on Gurbani Kirtan
19. Series of Power Point Presentations to Houston Police Academy Cadits.
20. Participation in Interfaith Activities
21. Liaison with Local Press and coverage on special Occasions
22. Liaison with Political offices of Mayor, Congressmen, Senators.
23. Newsletter as a medium of Parchar
24. Website
25. Sikh Directory
26. Printing and Distribution of Pamphlets, brochures
27. Maintaining a Library
28. Distribution of Books on Sikhism to Local and University libraries
29. Exhibitions
30. Serving the hungry – “Star of Hope” Program
31. Blood Donation Drives on June 6, every year, commemorating Blue Star
32. Amrit Parchar Ceremonies
33. Liaison with Funeral home(s) for funeral services
34. LVA – English as Second Language Classes
35. Gatka Classes
36. Sikh Parade
37. Demonstrations
38. Free Health Care Clinic
39. Seminars /Lectures on Health care
40. Lectures on immigration policies
41. Fund Raising in support of various Sikh Causes (Globally)
42. Picnics
43. Punjabi Cultural Programs
44. Sikh Historical Plays
45. Screening of Sikhi related movies
46. Slide shows on Gurdawaras.
47. Representation before employers for Sikh employees
48. Representation before Principals for Sikh students
49. Hosting National Convention of Sikh Council of North America.
50. Meals on wheels programs for elderly persons.
51. Volunteering in Hospitals
52. Indo-American Charity foundation
53. Houston has the unique honor that two “Hukamnamas” were issued from here by visiting Akal Takhat Sahib Jathedar, Singh Sahib Ajnoha.

Gurudwara