Editorial One
When Indian student Harmanpreet Singh removed his turban to cradle the bleeding head of a pupil who was struck by a speeding car in the South Auckland suburb of Takanini, he thought nothing of it.
At that point of time, on that fateful morning of May 15, 2015, he was concerned about the boy’s condition before medical help arrived. Whether removing turban in public would be considered an act of impropriety or religious sacrilege hardly crossed his mind.
But the positive effect of his graceful and timely action moved the world. The news went viral with almost every newspaper, television and radio organisation and social website praising Harmanpreet for his act of kindness.
He was a student from India, and like a majority of his peers, lived in a modest environment. He suddenly became a hero and recipient of not only accolades but also material help.
As we have reported under Homelink in this issue, Harmanpreet has earned world attention as a young man with a kind heart.
Religious Teaching
In fact, he symbolised the spirit and teaching of the Sikh religion.
As the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Book of Sikhism says, Oneness and love serve as the foundations of Sikh theology. These are both the objective and process. Sikhs aim to recognise the divinity within everyone and everything they encounter, and this daily practice helps the individual cultivate and embody the qualities of oneness and love.
Sikhs believe that the Creator permeates all of Creation and that every individual is filled with the same divine potential. The Sikh tradition emphasises the collective family-hood of all humanity and challenges all social inequalities, including those based on class, caste, gender, and profession.
Global Unity
The grace and humility with which Harmanpreet took the world spotlight that suddenly fell on him was also inspiring.
“Thousands of people have said, ‘well done.’ I was only doing what I had to and trying to be a decent member of the community. Thanks to all the messages and calls; thanks to all worldwide Facebook members who messaged me. I just did my job, nothing else,” he said to news reporters from many countries.
That again is the teaching of the Sacred Guru Granth Sahib. Realising oneness and love within one’s life also compels the individual to seek unity with the world around them. The tradition urges its followers to live as a ‘sant-sipahi’ (warrior-saint), one who strikes a balance of cultivating spirituality while contributing through community service.
No Issue
While helping those in distress comes naturally to Sikhs, they are among the most impressive groups to integrate themselves into any society in which they live.
As evidenced by the inclusion of writings from other religious leaders within the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Gurus did not believe in religious exclusivism. Rather, their pluralistic worldview posited that one could reach the Realisation from any religious tradition. Sikhism teaches that diverse paths can lead to the divine, as long as the individual traverses the path with love. Because of this pluralistic outlook, Sikhism has no real history of missionising or proselytising.
Guru Nanak Dev
Harmanpreet did what came naturally to him- following the teachings of Guru Nanak, the Founder of his religion. The Sikh community has drawn inspiration and guidance from such great Gurus over the years, and has demonstrated a commitment to justice in various ways. Sikhs are taught to defend the defenceless and have historically led responses to political oppression.
We salute Harmanpreet and wish him well in life. His good deed will always keep him and his family in good stead.
