Inder Singh Jamu

Description

Inder Singh Jamu, a very familiar name among the Asians, and the first Asian to become the mayor of Barking and Dagenham in London, was born on 22/10/1937 at Village Nawan Pind, District Amritsar, Punjab, India, in the house of Bishan Singh (Son of WW-1 Veteran- Balaka Singh) and Bibi Harnam Kaur ji. He had his school education from Khalsa High School, Nawan Pind, Amritsar. Graduated with B.Sc. in Agriculture from Khalsa College, Amritsar, Punjab University Chandigarh, India. In 1960 he joined as Agriculture Inspector in Punjab Civil Service, where he was promoted as farm manager in 1963. He migrated to UK in 1966 where he worked at William Warne for 2 years while living in Gascoigne Road, Barking. Moved to Dagenham and joined Ford Motor Company in 1968 to work as a Quality Control Inspector in KD Division. In 1973, he joined Barking & Dagenham Race Equality Council where he served as vice-chair for 5 years and 4 years as chair of the REC. He also held the position of Chair of Asian Welfare Association, Dagenham from 1978 to August 2005 when it was merged with Barking and Dagenham Punjabi Welfare Association. He was elected as Councilor for River Ward on 3rd November1988 after losing two elections (1982 & 86) and remained in this position till retirement in May 2014. During this period he served on a number of committees like Education, Establishment, Planning & Development, General Purposes, Social Services, Technical Services, London Road Safety Council, and have been the Council delegate to B.H.B. Community Health Council from 1988 to 1996. Before the new Cabinet System for local authorities served as Vice-Chair of Establishment Committee in Barking & Dagenham Council. Served as a Deputy Chairman of Development Control Board from year 2000 to 2006. Having won another four years term of election on 4th May 2006, was successful to become a Chairman of the Development Control Board. As the first Asian Mayor for this Council in 1998-99 and deputy Mayor in 1999-2000, he motivated the Asian community to take part in local activities. It was his outstanding record of services for the people of Barking and Dagenham that he was included among the 50 Notable persons of Barking & Dagenham to mark 50 Anniversary of becoming London Borough in July 1965 to 2015. Although he remained in limelight in UK, he also remained associated with political, social and religious developments in his mother state of Punjab.

Whereas, his political leanings have been towards Shiromani Akali Dal (he is president of SAD London East Branch and advisor to SAD UK), as a social activist he always protected the rights and interest of all the Asians particularly Sikhs. He was a member of the delegation of Shromani Akali Dal from U.K to welcome Her Majesty the Queen on 14th October 1997 at GOLDEN TEMPLE AMRITSAR, Punjab, India. He Explained the Protocol of Royal Family to the Reception Committee members and it was respectfully observed to welcome the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. When he was first Asian school Governor in the borough in 1980 and persuaded the Education Authority to teach Punjabi, Hindi Urdu to Asian Children as their mother tongue. As a Sikh he always raised voice against racial attack (e.g. in the case of Virk brothers and Narinder Singh Marway’s Kara Kesh). Whether it was the case of refusal of Kirpaan in the car driving test in 1989 or Sukhvinder Singh’s stabbing case in 2010, he always persuaded the authorities to support the Hardeep Singh Inder Singh Jamu 500 Sikh 55 Role Models aggrieved Sikh. When in 1999, tercentenary of creation of Khalsa was observed, he got Sikh Flag hosted at town hall Barking. Further, he started the fund raising for mayor charity through bicycle rides every year since April 2000 till today to mark the Vaisakhi festival. Thus, he has proved as a role model Indian Sikh in political, social and religious spheres in London, particularly the Borough Barking and Dagenham. He has served as bridge between British and Indian community and was Honoured with Hind Rattan Award (equal lent to M.B.E) by Indian authorities on 25 January 2004 at New Delhi. Even now after his retirement from politics he continues to hold many honorable positions in UK and India like member of Election Board with responsibility of Marriage registrar in his borough, Life member of London Labour Mayors and London Mayors Association through which have visited several European States, DC Washington and Cape Town to promote the mayoral links and exchange business and Cultural knowledge, Patron to Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial, Chandigarh since 2000 (Trust for Orphan children) and many other social organizations in Punjab, India. The role model Gursikh now lives at 16 Oval Road South, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 9DR. His email is indersingh.jamu@gmail.com.