Building a Life in Baghdad: A Son Joins His Father’s Dream
After reaching Baghdad, I asked Savinder Singh Ji to continue the story of his family’s remarkable journey.
Surinder Ji explained that his father had initially worked with a company engaged in constructing prefabricated houses in Iraq. After gaining valuable experience, he decided to establish his own construction business in Baghdad.
I then asked him, “Did you also go to Baghdad around that time?”
He smiled and replied:
“Yes. I had just completed my engineering degree and had already secured admission to the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles for my master’s degree. Before leaving for America, I decided to visit my father in Baghdad. But when I reached there, I found so much exciting activity around his work that I postponed my plans and accepted a job in Iraq instead.”
Savinder Ji joined a company as a Service Engineer responsible for the maintenance and commissioning of heavy earth-moving equipment, massive bulldozers, excavators, draglines, and other construction machinery. He deferred his admission to USC for one year and spent that year working in Baghdad.
Recalling those days, he said with great affection:
“Baghdad was a wonderful and amazing city. The Iraqi people were extremely warm, gentle, and affectionate towards Indians. There were well over a hundred Indian companies operating there, employing thousands of Indian workers. The Indian community had a very strong presence. Even a delegation of Indian Army officers was stationed there, teaching at the Iraqi Staff College.”
One of his fondest memories was visiting the historic Gurdwara in Baghdad every Sunday.
He explained:
“The Gurdwara stands beside the shrine associated with the local Pir whom Guru Nanak Dev Ji is believed to have met during His travels. Every Sunday there was a large congregation, and on Gurpurab the gathering was so huge that it reminded you of the great congregations at Bangla Sahib.”
I asked, “Were they all Sikhs?”
He replied,
“Not at all. People from every faith came, Sikhs, Hindus, and many other Indians. Everyone joined the congregation. It truly represented the spirit of the Indian community.”
His words reminded me of what I witness today at the Gurdwara in San Jose. Every weekend, many non-Sikh families visit with their parents and children. They come to seek blessings, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, and partake in the langar. They are welcomed with the same warmth and equality as everyone else.
That, I believe, is one of the greatest strengths of the Sikh tradition. Every person is treated with dignity, regardless of religion, caste, nationality, or background. There is no discrimination, no expectation of payment, and no distinction between rich and poor. The same spirit continues today at Sri Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in Amritsar, where millions are served equally every year.
Returning to Savinder Ji’s story, I asked what happened next.
He continued:
“After spending a year in Baghdad, I came to the United States and completed my master’s degree at the University of Southern California. Around that same time, my father left his employer and established his own construction company in Iraq. As the business expanded, he needed someone he could trust to help him. So instead of pursuing my own career in America, I returned to Iraq to join him.”
I remarked that this decision was extraordinary.
“After earning a master’s degree in America,” I said, “most of your classmates would have eagerly searched for high-paying jobs and settled in the United States. Very few would have left that opportunity behind.”
Savinder Ji simply smiled.
For me, that decision revealed something very special about his character. It reflected not only professional ability but also deep loyalty to his father, faith in the family enterprise, and the willingness to place family responsibility above personal ambition.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons I felt so drawn to know more about him and his remarkable journey.
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