Jathedar Gargajj Honours Sikh Youth for Continuing Medical Studies while Upholding Sikh Identity Amidst Challenges Abroad

 Amritsar, July 18,Nazrana Times Beuro 

 Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, Officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, honoured Sikh youth Harshdeep Singh with a siropao (robe of honour) for continuing his medical education in a foreign country while steadfastly maintaining his Sabat Soorat (unshorn Sikh appearance), despite facing considerable challenges. Harshdeep Singh, along with his sister Palakpreet Kaur, hails from Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district and they are pursuing an MBBS degree at Tashkent University’s Medical Academy in Uzbekistan. During his course, a Professor at the academy imposed a condition that to attend surgical classes, Harshdeep Singh would be required to shave his beard. In response, Harshdeep Singh chose to prioritize 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 Singh raised the issue through a Sikh 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 Singh written permission to attend surgical classes with his beard intact and Professor also issued a written apology. Moreover, the discriminatory condition has now been revoked for all Sikh students moving forward by the academy. Jathedar Gargajj praised Harshdeep Singh's determination, intelligence, and courage for standing firm in the face of adversity, highlighting the matter and setting a precedent for Sikh students worldwide. He said that with Harshdeep Singh’s efforts, the passage for Sikh students to study in Tashkent Medical Academy while maintaining their religious Sikh identity has been cleared. He urged all Sikh youth to draw inspiration from this example and remain committed to their unshorn Sikh identity (Sabat Soorat) under all circumstances. On this occasion, Harshdeep Singh's parents, Gurjinder Singh and Bibi Gurpreet Kaur, as well as his sister, Palkapreet Kaur, were also present.