Jathedar felicitates student for upholding Sikh identity abroad

The officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, felicitated a Sikh youth Harshdeep Singh with a ‘Siropa’ for continuing his medical education in a foreign country while steadfastly maintaining his Sikhi Saroop (unshorn Sikh appearance), despite facing considerable challenges.

Harshdeep Singh, who hails from Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district, paid obeisance at Akal Takht and the Golden Temple.

Pursuing an MBBS degree at Tashkent University’s Medical Academy in Uzbekistan, a professor imposed a condition that Harshdeep could attend surgical classes only after shaving his beard. In response, Harshdeep chose to prioritise his religious Sikh identity over his education and decided to forgo his medical studies rather than compromise his faith.

He also made efforts to educate the Dean of the Tashkent University about the significance of unshorn hair in Sikh faith. When his plea went unheard, Harshdeep raised the issue through a Member of Parliament from his region, who then took up the matter with Government of India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Following intervention, Tashkent Medical Academy formally granted Harshdeep a written permission to attend surgical classes with his beard intact and the professor also issued a written apology to him. Moreover, the discriminatory condition has now been revoked for all Sikh students who will pursue education in the academy.

Jathedar Gargaj praised Harshdeep’s determination, intelligence and courage for standing firm in the face of adversity, highlighting the matter and setting a precedent for Sikh students worldwide.

Harshdeep’s parents, Gurjinder Singh and Gurpreet Kaur, and his sister Palakpreet Kaur also accompanied him.

Amritsar