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| Dr. Sanjeet Singh-Saluja before (top photo) and after he decided to shave his beard required of Sikh adherents so he can treat coronavirus-afflicted patients. |
ASAM NEWS
You may have noticed that many Sikh men grow out their beards. That’s because in Sikhism, allowing one’s hair to grow out naturally is considered respect for God’s creation or kesh.
Brothers Sanjeet and Rajeet Singh-Saluja are two Sikhs who also happen to be doctors in Montreal, Canada. Keeping their beards would have meant not being able to wear facemasks properly and safely. It would have also meant not being able to fight on the frontlines against the coronavirus.
Brothers Sanjeet and Rajeet Singh-Saluja are two Sikhs who also happen to be doctors in Montreal, Canada. Keeping their beards would have meant not being able to wear facemasks properly and safely. It would have also meant not being able to fight on the frontlines against the coronavirus.
"We could choose not to work, but in a time when healthcare workers are falling sick, we would be adding stress to an already taxed system," Sanjeet said in a video posted by the McGill University Health Centre.
"We could decide to simply refuse to see COVID-19 patients until viable protection is available to us, but that goes against our oath as physicians and against the principles of sewa," he continued.
So they decided to follow another Sikh value -- one of sewa, or selfless service. They both cut off their beards, reports Upworthy.
“It was an extremely difficult decision for us, but one that we felt was absolutely necessary in this time of need,” Sanjeet Singh-Saluja said to the National Post. “It’s a decision that has left me with much sadness. This was something that had been so much part of my identity. I look at myself in the mirror very differently now. Every morning when I see myself, it’s a bit of a shock.”
Sanjeet said he didn’t want the publicity, but when he saw the impact their decision had on everyone, they agreed to take part in the video below.
“Because COVID-19 has become so rampant in our community, it just wasn’t feasible anymore (not to wear a N95 mask). There are so many people coming in. I felt I just couldn’t sit on the sidelines. This was an exception to the rule, so we had to do what we had to do to help out.”
"We could decide to simply refuse to see COVID-19 patients until viable protection is available to us, but that goes against our oath as physicians and against the principles of sewa," he continued.
So they decided to follow another Sikh value -- one of sewa, or selfless service. They both cut off their beards, reports Upworthy.
“It was an extremely difficult decision for us, but one that we felt was absolutely necessary in this time of need,” Sanjeet Singh-Saluja said to the National Post. “It’s a decision that has left me with much sadness. This was something that had been so much part of my identity. I look at myself in the mirror very differently now. Every morning when I see myself, it’s a bit of a shock.”
Sanjeet said he didn’t want the publicity, but when he saw the impact their decision had on everyone, they agreed to take part in the video below.
“Because COVID-19 has become so rampant in our community, it just wasn’t feasible anymore (not to wear a N95 mask). There are so many people coming in. I felt I just couldn’t sit on the sidelines. This was an exception to the rule, so we had to do what we had to do to help out.”
Heroism and sacrifices comes in many forms. Merci, doctors Saluja.
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