Surjit Kaur Bhatti
Surjit Kaur Bhatti (April 23, 1930 – April 8, 2019) was among the first generation of Punjabi women to settle in California after World War II. She arrived in America in June, 1965 in San Francisco and settled in the Yuba City area.
She was born in Veerpind in the Jalandhar district of Punjab, India. Her parents, Kehar Singh Johl and Bachint Kaur Johl, celebrated their daughter’s birth by sharing sweets in the village, a custom that was typically only reserved for the birth of sons.
She attended school for five years. At the age of 17, she was married to Mahenga Singh Bhatti. Immediately after immigrating to the United States, she began to forge a sense of community, making friends with fellow immigrant families. Her first friend in America was a woman named Inderjit whom she met en route to San Francisco from India.
After settling in Yuba City, Mrs Bhatti continued to raise her family with four children and contribute to her family farming business.
Surjit Kaur Bhatti, Passport Photo, India, 1965.
Mr. Bhatti, Surjit Kaur Bhatti, Amerjit Bhatti, Gurdip Aujla, Harjit Dhillon, Yuba City, 1966.
In the early years, the Punjabi community was quite small. She recalled the excitement she felt when new immigrants arrived from Punjab. She would welcome new immigrant families, giving them a warm meal and a place to stay. She was also an active sevadar (volunteer) in the local Sikh community, especially at the Yuba City Tierra Buena Gurdwara Sahib.
Mrs. Bhatti enjoyed many hobbies, including cooking, sewing, gardening, and art. She was also a voracious reader. Memorizing countless recipes, she passed down her recipes and cooking skills to her children and grandchildren.
In addition, Mrs. Bhatti’s exceptional sewing skills illustrated her patience and dedication to the craft, as she spun cotton into thread and handcrafted pillowcases showcasing intricate cross-stitched designs. Mrs. Bhatti loved to share the knowledge she learned in her reading with family and friends.
Mrs. Bhatti also played an instrumental role in raising her nine grandchildren, as she took keen interest in their education, activities, and lives. As a grandmother, she taught her grandchildren the importance of maintaining a strong work ethic.
Surjit Kaur Bhatti’s strength of character and generous spirit ultimately paved the path for not only herself and her family, but for fellow immigrant families and future generations to live fulfilling lives in the United States.
After settling in Yuba City, Mrs Bhatti continued to raise her family with four children and contribute to her family farming business. In the early years, the Punjabi community was quite small. She recalled the excitement she felt when new immigrants arrived from Punjab. She would welcome new immigrant families, giving them a warm meal and a place to stay. She was also an active sevadar (volunteer) in the local Sikh community, especially at the Yuba City Tierra Buena Gurdwara Sahib.
Photos courtesy of the Bhatti family.
Source: Interview with Surjit Kaur Bhatti by Nicole Ranganath and Davinder Deol, Yuba City, December 17, 2017.
Surjit Kaur and her children, Live Oak, CA, 1965.