Milpitas Unified proclaims November as California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month

The Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education adopted Resolution 202618 on Nov. 18, 2025, proclaiming November as California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month and encouraging schools to commemorate the observance.

A district clerk read the resolution text at the meeting and said the proclamation recognizes Sikh Americans’ history in California, including early immigration through the Angel Island immigration station in San Francisco and contributions in rail, lumber and agriculture.

The resolution text lists several claims about Sikh American history and presence in the United States, including that Sikh people have lived in the U.S. for more than 120 years and that "there are about 500,000 to 700,000" Sikhs in the United States, "roughly half" of them in California, and "27 million" worldwide. The meeting record does not include sources for those figures; the board document presents them as background in the proclamation.

The document also highlights civic and economic contributions by Sikh Americans, noting service as members of Congress, mayors, judges, city council members, soldiers and scientists, and references agricultural ownership. The resolution text names the first Asian American elected to Congress from California’s 29th District but prints the name in a form inconsistent with historical records; historical sources identify that individual as Dalip Singh Saund.

The resolution describes Sikh religious origins and values, saying Sikhism was founded about 500 years ago by Guru Nanak and that Sikh teachings emphasize equality, service and opposition to injustice; the text asserts that "Sikh values are American values." The district’s proclamation calls on educators to mark the month with ceremonies, activities and programs.

The meeting record states the resolution was "passed and adopted" by the Board of Education at the Nov. 18, 2025 meeting; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally, the names of the motion’s mover or seconder, or other vote details. The board document itself — Resolution 202618 — is the formal authority cited for the action.

The board did not specify next procedural steps in the transcript; the resolution encourages local schools and educators to plan commemorations and related activities.