Episode 22: Darshan Singh Sangha: A Human Spirit that Transcended Boundaries
09/19/23 • 25 min
This episode chronicles the exploits of someone who made a huge contribution to the early organizing efforts of the International Woodworkers of America and campaigned relentlessly for justice for South Asians like himself during the 1940s. That man is Darshan Singh Sangha. Yet few British Columbians outside the province's large South Asian community know anything about him. It's a captivating story that stretches from the Punjab where he was born, to Canada and then back to India. The episode includes a rare CBC Radio news report from the IWA's 1946 March on Victoria.
Host: Rod Mickleburgh
Voice of Darshan Singh Sangha: Harinder Mahil
Research and writing: Patricia Wejr and Donna Sacuta
Technical wizard: John Mabbott
Sources:
Andrew Neufeld and Andrew Parnaby. “The IWA in Canada: The Life and Times of an Industrial Union.” IWA Canada, 2000.
Donna Sacuta, Bailey Garden and Anushay Malik. "Union Zindabad! South Asian Canadian Labour History in British Columbia." South Asian Studies Institute, University of the Fraser Valley, 2022.
Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal. "Ten Years of Darshan in Canada" in Darshan: A Book on Darshan's Life and Contribution, ed. H. Daudharia (Darshan Singh Sangha 'Canadian' Heritage Foundation, 2004.
"Strikers at Park Rally Appeal for Victoria Citizens' Support." Times Colonist, 17 May 1946, 2.
Sukhwant Hundal's Podcast. Episode 21: "A Tribute to Darshan Singh Canadian-Oct. 12-1986" Accessed August 10, 2023, https://shows.acast.com/sukhwant-hundals-podcast/episodes/a-tribute-to-darshan-singh-canadian-oct-12-1986
News Commentary - Laurie Dillabough and Jim Nesbitt about the International Woodworkers of America and the workers strike on Victoria, B.C. 1946-06-14. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio: Vancouver. ISN 199793. Credit: CBC Licensing.
Music:
Theme song: "Hold the Fort" (traditional) - Arranged & Performed by Tom Hawken & his band, 1992.
"There is Power in a Union" by Billy Bragg (1986).
"IWA Marching Song" by Joe Glazer (1977).
Indian Tabla & Veena Music Track - Copyright Free Music via YouTube.
- Follow us https://www.facebook.com/LabourHistoryInBC/
- Browse https://www.labourheritagecentre.ca/
- Find us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/bclhc.bsky.social
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bc_lhc/
- Send your feedback [email protected]
- Thanks for listening!
This episode chronicles the exploits of someone who made a huge contribution to the early organizing efforts of the International Woodworkers of America and campaigned relentlessly for justice for South Asians like himself during the 1940s. That man is Darshan Singh Sangha. Yet few British Columbians outside the province's large South Asian community know anything about him. It's a captivating story that stretches from the Punjab where he was born, to Canada and then back to India. The episode includes a rare CBC Radio news report from the IWA's 1946 March on Victoria.
Host: Rod Mickleburgh
Voice of Darshan Singh Sangha: Harinder Mahil
Research and writing: Patricia Wejr and Donna Sacuta
Technical wizard: John Mabbott
Sources:
Andrew Neufeld and Andrew Parnaby. “The IWA in Canada: The Life and Times of an Industrial Union.” IWA Canada, 2000.
Donna Sacuta, Bailey Garden and Anushay Malik. "Union Zindabad! South Asian Canadian Labour History in British Columbia." South Asian Studies Institute, University of the Fraser Valley, 2022.
Sadhu Binning and Sukhwant Hundal. "Ten Years of Darshan in Canada" in Darshan: A Book on Darshan's Life and Contribution, ed. H. Daudharia (Darshan Singh Sangha 'Canadian' Heritage Foundation, 2004.
"Strikers at Park Rally Appeal for Victoria Citizens' Support." Times Colonist, 17 May 1946, 2.
Sukhwant Hundal's Podcast. Episode 21: "A Tribute to Darshan Singh Canadian-Oct. 12-1986" Accessed August 10, 2023, https://shows.acast.com/sukhwant-hundals-podcast/episodes/a-tribute-to-darshan-singh-canadian-oct-12-1986
News Commentary - Laurie Dillabough and Jim Nesbitt about the International Woodworkers of America and the workers strike on Victoria, B.C. 1946-06-14. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio: Vancouver. ISN 199793. Credit: CBC Licensing.
Music:
Theme song: "Hold the Fort" (traditional) - Arranged & Performed by Tom Hawken & his band, 1992.
"There is Power in a Union" by Billy Bragg (1986).
"IWA Marching Song" by Joe Glazer (1977).
Indian Tabla & Veena Music Track - Copyright Free Music via YouTube.
- Follow us https://www.facebook.com/LabourHistoryInBC/
- Browse https://www.labourheritagecentre.ca/
- Find us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/bclhc.bsky.social
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bc_lhc/
- Send your feedback [email protected]
- Thanks for listening!
Previous Episode
Episode 21: Construction Unions, the False Creek Rumble and Expo 86
We look at the valiant efforts during the 1980s by B.C.'s unionized building trades to fight off the anti-union Social Credit government determined to break their hold on major construction projects in the province. It all came to a head in the run-up to Vancouver's World's Fair—Expo 86—and the building of the fair itself.
Cheered on by fanatical anti-union contractors, the provincial government wanted to open the door to non-union contractors who bid on and won major projects that previously would have been built using union labour. Through the voices of union leaders of the day, this episode traces the politics behind the battle that gave the non-union construction sector a toehold which it never relinquished.
This episode includes recordings with retired Building Trades Union executives Gary Kroeker, Bill Zander and Roy Gautier.
Host: Rod Mickleburgh
Voice of newspaper editorial: Lucie McNeill
Research and writing: Patricia Wejr and Donna Sacuta
Technical wizard: John Mabbott
Sources:
Kroeker, Gary. Interview by Jim Sinclair, May 3, 2017. BC Labour Heritage Centre, https://www.labourheritagecentre.ca/oral-history/gary-kroeker/
Zander, Bill. Interview by Sean Griffin and Dan Keeton, June 6, 2016. BC Labour Heritage Centre, https://www.labourheritagecentre.ca/oral-history/bill-zander/
“Webster! Full Episode January 27, 1984.” YouTube, uploaded by Royal B.C. Museum, 19 May 2016, Copyright: BC Archives, Credit: Jack Webster and BCTV, https://youtu.be/HoVS8aBTzyo
“Webster! Full Episode March 19, 1984.” YouTube, uploaded by Royal B.C. Museum, 21 January 2019, Copyright: BC Archives, Credit: Jack Webster and BCTV, https://youtu.be/jtC9zXeQl-A
“Webster! Full Episode March 3, 1986.” YouTube, uploaded by Royal B.C. Museum, 29 September 2016, Copyright: BC Archives, Credit: Jack Webster and BCTV, https://youtu.be/L2vJ1OL7pFg
Music:
Theme song: "Hold the Fort" (traditional) - Arranged & Performed by Tom Hawken & his band, 1992.
"I Don't Want Your Millions Mister" by Jim Garland (1938), performed by George Hewison and The Rank 'N File Band.
"Billy and the Socreds" by D.O.A.
"The Workers Song" by Ed Pickford (1981), performed by The Longest Johns.
"False Creek Change" by Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft (2009), performed by Said the Whale.
- Follow us https://www.facebook.com/LabourHistoryInBC/
- Browse https://www.labourheritagecentre.ca/
- Find us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/bclhc.bsky.social
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bc_lhc/
- Send your feedback [email protected]
- Thanks for listening!
Next Episode
Ep 23: Teamster Diana Kilmury: B.C.’s Tough and Fearless Truck-Driving Woman
In this episode of On the Line, we present a compelling tale of British Columbia's Diana Kilmury, a bold and fearless truck driver who became immersed in the murky male dominated world of the Teamsters Union back in the days when women behind the wheel of big trucks were as scarce as generous employers. She took on both sexist attitudes on the job and a union that was then, in the United States, riddled by corruption, with a top down leadership that was closely connected to organized crime and crushed any challenge to the way the union was run. Yet against all odds, Kilmury eventually found herself in the highest echelons of North America's largest union.Host: Rod Mickleburgh
Research and writing: Patricia Wejr
Technical wizard: John Mabbott
Source:
Diana Kilmury Interview. Conducted by Rod Mickleburgh, 13 April 2023, https://vimeo.com/833432166
Music:
Theme song: "Hold the Fort” (traditional) - Arranged & Performed by Tom Hawken & his band, 1992.
"Truck Driving Woman” by Si Kahn (1974). Performed by Aya!
- Follow us https://www.facebook.com/LabourHistoryInBC/
- Browse https://www.labourheritagecentre.ca/
- Find us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/bclhc.bsky.social
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bc_lhc/
- Send your feedback [email protected]
- Thanks for listening!
On the Line: Stories of BC Workers - Episode 22: Darshan Singh Sangha: A Human Spirit that Transcended Boundaries
Transcript
Welcome to another episode of On the Line, the popular podcast that brings to light stories from British Columbia's rich labour heritage. Today, we chronicle the exploits of someone who made a huge contribution to the early organizing efforts of the International Woodworkers of America and campaigned relentlessly for justice for South Asians like himself during the 1940s. That man is Darshan Singh Sangha. Yet few British Columbians outside the province's large South A
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