[Encore] Free to be Punjabi

October 31st marks the beginning of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. It’s the most important holiday in India. In celebration, we are re-releasing this episode from Season 1.

The allure of abundant work and fertile soil drew many to California, and in particular, the rich rural areas of the state. Punjabi workers came in small numbers to Yuba City in the early 1900s,  but after Indian independence in 1947 when Punjab was split in two, that trickle became a steady stream. Now this rural area known for its peach orchards is the heart of a vibrant South Asian Punjabi community, rich with traditions and culture.

In this episode, hear from alumna Deepeaka Dhaliwal about her family ties to the area and some of the sites she explored in her research for her thesis  Yuba-Sutter: A Case Study for Heritage Conservation in Punjabi-American Communities.

Deepeaka Dhaliwal grew up in Sacramento, California and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her Bachelor’s in History at UCLA. She has a Master of Heritage Conservation degree from the USC School of Architecture. Her research interests include heritage conservation in AAPI communities and intangible heritage. She works as a planner with the City of Los Angeles and oversees several historic districts throughout the city.

Trudi Sandmeier is the Director of Heritage Conservation Programs at the USC School of Architecture and co-host of the podcast.

Podcast Breakdown

• • • [06:20] Yuba Sutter
    • [12:51] Eager Orchards
    • [14:50] Yuba City Gurdwara
    • [17:25] Nagar Kirtan
    • [20:15] Punjab Bazaar

Want to know more about some of the ideas and places mentioned in this episode? Check out:

USC Heritage Conservation Programs

 Credits on About page