Crash Hero Praised Worldwide

[JSinghnz]

Aucklander who removed turban to help wounded boy praised worldwide.

Crash hero praised worldwide

Harman Singh had no hesitation breaking religious protocol to use his turban to tend a seriously injured child. Photo / Michael Craig

Harman Singh woke up yesterday to hundreds of messages from around the world praising his humanity. A picture of the 22-year-old Sikh breaking religious protocol by removing his turban to cradle a boy hit by a car has turned him into an instant hero.

Singh revealed yesterday he shouldn't have even been at the scene. He told the Herald on Sunday that he was only at home when the incident happened because he changed his shift as a bakery delivery driver the day before.

"I would normally have been at work, so the timing was a bit of luck," he said. "I thought I would be having a quiet morning off."

Singh said he was in bed when he heard tyres screeching and rushed outside.

Singh cushions the boy's head with his turban. Photo / Daljit Singh

"I saw a little boy lying in the road and there was a lot of blood coming from the back of his head.

A lady was holding him and he wasn't moving.

"I feared the worst. His mother was there, too and she was in shock."

The boy was going to school with his sister when the accident happened.

A couple of months ago, an elderly woman collapsed in front of Singh and banged her head.

I was only doing what I had to and trying to be a decent member of the community.

Harman Singh

"On that occasion I started to roll my turban up but I put it back on again," he explained. "I thought afterwards that this had been a bit of a mistake. When I saw the little boy was bleeding I decided this time I would take the turban off and use it. Anyone would have done the same."

The accident happened outside his house in Takanini, South Auckland, on Friday morning. Singh has since received hundreds of Facebook herograms from as far afield as the US, Europe and India, he said. His story has been shared tens of thousands of times on social media.

Singh, 22, from India, is in Auckland studying a business course. His act is considered a hugely significant because it breaks strict religious protocol.

He was overwhelmed at the number of messages of support from around the globe. "Total strangers are asking to be friends on Facebook and 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."

The boy was thought to have suffered life-threatening head injuries but was last night recovering in Starship Hospital after surgery.

"He had multiple injuries but is in a stable condition and has a period of recovery in front of him," a Starship spokeswoman said.

Singh did not know the injured boy but hoped to hear from his family about his progress.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/auckland-region/news/article.cfm?l_id=117&objectid=11449967

[DailyMail]

Fantastic news!

[POODNA]

He could have taken his top of but that wouldn't have generated any facebook likes. Taking his pag off was unnecessary. I think this Singh is a lalu and I would have slapped him if i was there. The west are ofcourse loving this news because they see a Sikh 'breaking his religion'.

[eduardo]

The west are ofcourse loving this news because they see a Sikh 'breaking his religion'.

I disagree.

The west as you like to call them are probably loving this because it is an example of someone putting humanity first before their strict religious principles.

It's a good news story because the gentleman in question was more concerned for the welfare of another human being, a non Sikh human being, than his own religious protocol.

If anything this will help "the West" as you like call it perceive Sikhi as a more humane and caring religion.

A story like this can only be good.

I mean what do you mean by "the West"?

Please explain.

[DailyMail]

"He could have taken his top of but that wouldn't have generated any facebook likes. Taking his pag off was unnecessary. I think this Singh is a lalu and I would have slapped him if i was there. The west are ofcourse loving this news because they see a Sikh 'breaking his religion'. "

You have failed to see the purpose of religion.

[eduardo]

Hey Daily Mail, look it's on the front page of the Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3084923/The-touching-moment-Sikh-man-breaks-strict-religious-protocol-removes-turban-help-save-life-five-year-old-boy-seriously-injured-hit-car.html

Now Poodna check out the comments section below the article, see what "the West" have to say about this.

[Jonny101]

I have heard from Sikh elders who have fought in the 1971 indo pak war that when Sikh soldiers liberated Bangladesh, many times they would find Bangladeshi women in rape camps without cloths. In many instances Sikh soldiers would take off their Turbans and give it to the women to cover up their bodies. It is estimated that 300,000 Bangladeshi women were raped by Pakistani soldiers.

Although this is unrelated to the topic but it is sort of related since a Turban was used in helping someone.

[DailyMail]

Absolutely. Over 1000 comments.

This type of story, with a fitting picture accompanying it, encompasses the sarbat da bhalla attitude in a way that a 2 hour lecture on sarbat da bhalla in a gurdwara can never achieve. We Sikhs have become specialists in "theory" - the practicality of applying Sikhi is something that is lost on many.

[POODNA]

I have heard from Sikh elders who have fought in the 1971 indo pak war that when Sikh soldiers liberated Bangladesh, many times they would find Bangladeshi women in rape camps without cloths. In many instances Sikh soldiers would take off their Turbans and give it to the women to cover up their bodies. It is estimated that 300,000 Bangladeshi women were raped by Pakistani soldiers.

Although this is unrelated to the topic but it is sort of related since a Turban was used in helping someone.

That's not the point. Removing his dastar was a completely unnecessary over- reaction. He did not have to cover up a naked raped women. He was just proving a cushion for a boys head.

[Balkaar]

That's not the point. Removing his dastar was a completely unnecessary over- reaction. He did not have to cover up a naked raped women. He was just proving a cushion for a boys head.

Brahmgiani Sant Baba Nand Singh Ji once removed the dastaar he wore over his keski and laid it out on the ground which Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, being borne aloft on the head of a Sikh, was going to pass over.

That may also be said to have been unnecessary, but it was a beautiful sentiment and showed his pyaar.

Harman Singh Ji's action was very much the same, it showed his love for humankind.