Raj raised his children in the Surrey Newton area, and was responsible for the renaming of 75A Avenue in Surrey Newton to Komagata Maru Way. He also brought about the Komagata Maru storyboard that is installed nearby at R. A. Nicholson park. While he has accomplished a great deal in helping to build memorials all across Metro Vancouver and the rest of Canada, his Surrey Newton connections will always be a big part of who he is. He wants to bring the same energy that he channeled to educate Canadians about the Komagata Maru incident to help the people of Surrey Newton become a healthy and thriving community whose voice is heard by the government.

Raj went to high school in Surrey and from then he worked in mills and canneries in the Fraser Valley. He was a vice-chairman in the Union Plant Committee and helped workers solve their grievances. Service to his coworkers and his community has always been a number one priority for him.

Raj is an avid chess player and even though the election will keep him busy, he will accept any and all challenges from anyone for a game!