NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Fresno, CA, September 17, 2025: In what community leaders described as a historic moment, Central Unified School District hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week for Jaswant Singh Khalra Elementary School, the first school in the United States to be named after a Sikh.
The $38 million school features modern classrooms, collaborative spaces, and community facilities. Located in west Fresno, will serve more than 600 students from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade when it opens in August. District officials said the campus represents both a major investment in local education and a meaningful recognition of diversity within the Central Valley.
“This school stands as a testament to justice, courage, and inclusion,” said Central Unified Superintendent Andrew Alvarado, noting that the district wanted the name to reflect values that inspire students to become compassionate leaders.
Who Was Jaswant Singh Khalra?
Jaswant Singh Khalra (1952–1995) was a banker turned human rights activist in Punjab, India. In the mid-1990s, he uncovered evidence of thousands of disappearances and secret cremations carried out during counter-insurgency operations. His findings drew international attention, but also threats. Khalra was abducted by police in 1995 and later killed.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, hailed his efforts as a courageous defense of civil liberties. His widow, Paramjit Kaur Khalra, continues to carry forward his advocacy.
Community Reactions
The naming of the school has been celebrated by the local Sikh and Punjabi communities, many of whom see it as long-overdue recognition. The Central Valley is home to one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States, with families who have farmed and contributed to the region’s economy for more than a century.
