Candidate for
Member, Board of Directors; Union Sanitary District; Ward 3

Excerpt from Dan Archer's Profiles published in Tri-City Tidings:

Fremont resident, graduate engineer, Jeevan Zutshi, native of Kashmir, India came to the Bay Area in 1972. Except for a four year work assignment for the Bechtel Corporation in Saudi Arabia, Jeevan has lived in Fremont since 1977.

He left Kashmir originally because, as he says, "There was simply no employment for engineers in Kashmir at the time. There was too much political turmoil in my country, particularly because of ongoing feuds with neighboring Pakistan, which prompted me to seek immigration to the United States. Fortunately, the U.S. Labor Department at that time looked favorable on immigrant doctors, scientists and engineers, so I was approved for entry into the United States within a month after applying."

Jeevan takes pride in his U.S. citizenship, and plays an active role in community affairs. The day of our interview, for instance, he learned that he had been appointed to the State Transportation Advisory Board. For many years his goal has been to get involved in the mainstream America. By doing so, he sets a great example to all citizens, particularly his fellow Indo-Americans.

Says Jeevan, "I encourage all citizens, regardless of ethnic background, to become an active and vibrant participant in community affairs, both socially and politically. The should be part of the mainstream political fabric, part of the solution, not the problem."

He strongly urges immigrants to the United States to assimilate themselves into the culture of their adoptive country. "Former homeland traditions are fine, but blend them into your new homeland's culture."

Jeevan is on the Fremont Downtown Planning Advisory Committee, the Fremont Democratic Central Committee and has been nominated by Senator Liz Figueroa as a delegate to the State Democratic Central Committee. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Tri-City Homeless Coalition and Fremont Chamber of Commerce, where he has already been involved with the Chamber's Emerging Markets Group. He has countless other civic affiliations, as well, including Indo-American groups.

Jeevan has a Masters Degree from San Jose State University in civil engineering with an emphasis on transportation. In addition to his engineering profession, Jeevan is involved with property management and development in the South Bay.

Jeevan's home in Kashmir was in the beautiful foothills of the Himalayas. "My father was a landlord in Kashmir but lost his lands due to the political turmoil. My mother was one of the very few women to attend college before she married my father in 1945. Both mother and father have been living with my family since 1979. Father's name is Jatender and Mother's name is Lalita. Father keeps himself busy by transporting dependent seniors to medical appointments. Mother is an avid reader."

Jeevan's wife, Usha, a biologist, works at San Jose Hospital. His children graduated from Fremont Public schools. They all share Jeevan's enthusiasm for life in the United States.