Fresno to welcome first school in US named after Sikh activist

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno is a step closer to being home to the first elementary school in the country to be named after a Sikh human rights leader, according to Central Unified.

The Central Unified School District announced on Tuesday the upcoming ribbon-cutting of Jaswant Singh Khalra Elementary School, which district officials say is the first elementary school in the nation to be named in honor of a Punjabi individual.

The proposed school name was officially introduced during a Central Unified Board of Trustees meeting in January.

“This event marks a historic moment in U.S. and Punjabi-American history, celebrating inclusion
and representation, along with the enduring values of courage, justice, and education. It reflects
Central Unified’s commitment to honoring diverse voices and uplifting community heroes who
inspire future generations,” wrote the district.

When the name was announced in January, Board President Naindeep Singh Chann said Khalra was a bank director in Punjab who recorded over 200 disappearances from his local area.

Chann says Khalra found evidence that the people who disappeared were illegally cremated and killed by the police, and the police did not notify their families. After that, he became a human rights activist, who was later killed by the government he was trying to expose.

The new school will be located at 4061 W. Fountain Way Ave.