Pioneering Sikh-American businessman dubbed the “Peach King” Didar Singh Bains has passed away at the age of 84. Bains, a well known Sikh leader in Yuba City, California, earned his name by farming thousands of acres. He also helped raise voice for Sikhs rights and human rights and elevated the political influence of Sikhs.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

YUBA CITY – Pioneering Sikh-American businessman dubbed the “Peach King” Didar Singh Bains has passed away at the age of 84.

Bains, a well known Sikh leader in Yuba City, California, earned his name by farming thousands of acres. He also helped raise voice for Sikhs rights and human rights and elevated the political influence of Sikhs.

Despite his humble origins, Bains emerged in the post-war period as the largest peach farmer in California and one of the largest in the world. He was widely known as the “Peach King” due to his success in farming. Bains has played critical roles in founding Sikh institutions and festivals in Yuba City and globally. He helped popularize the annual Sikh parade in Yuba city at the Guru Granth Sahib Gurgaddi day. He took Amrit from Jathedar of Akal Takht who had visited him in 1980s.

He supported efforts to create awareness about Sikh issues. He had pioneered to open an office for Sikhs in Washington, DC, next to the Capitol Hill during 1980s to talk about Sikh human rights issues and happenings in India. He bought an expensive town home in the political nerve center in Washington for this purpose. This home also hosted a library of Sikh books for research. He wielded political influence in California and in Washington, D.C. and he was an influential philanthropist in the South Asian Diaspora.

He was part of an effort to bring together Gurdwaras in Sikh Council of North America which didn’t survive too long and later after the 1984 Darbar Sahib attack, Didar Singh Bains helped in founding and remained the President of the World Sikh Organization for many years. He was also part of the delegation which met President Bush in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to deter hate violence against Sikhs in America.

Didar Singh Bains was also asked by Parkash Singh Badal to pay the fee to world’s famous architect Moshe Safdie for designing the Khalsa Heritage Complex in Anandpur Sahib. It was close to 250,000 which was paid by Didar Singh Bains.

He was best known for his hospitality and his wife Santi was a great host and supported him in his business and his community work. There was hardly any Sikh leader or preacher or Jathedar who didn’t come to his place.

His son Karam Bains is also now active in Sikh affairs in Yuba city.