Graduate School of Arts and Sciences student Ajeet Singh Matharu was killed in a car crash in India on July 26.
He was a second-year history student studying for a Ph.D.
Matharu was an active member of New York Sikh groups, particularly in the Jakara Movement, a Sikh youth organization. He also participated in Sikholars, a Sikh graduate student conference.
"A little education about Sikhi can go a long way to creating community among people in the world," he said in a past interview with the Khalsa Kids website.
According to GSAS graduate administrator Sharee Nash, the University is in the process of organizing an on-campus memorial service for Matharu. She expects the service to take place in October.
Originally from California, Matharu attended the University of Southern California, where he majored in history and economics. As a Teach for America fellow, he taught history in Brooklyn public schools for two years.
He earned a master's degree at Pace University before matriculating at Columbia.
A funeral service was held in Fresno, Calif., according to the Fresno Bee. Matharu's Manhattan colleagues and friends are also invited to a commemoration at the downtown Alignment Center on Aug. 4, according to the NY Punjabi and Sikhs Meetup Group website.
COMMENTS
Comments will be moderated in accordance with our comment policy