Sikh boy turns turban into Band-Aid for injured Muslim lady, wins hearts

Srinagar

In a beautiful display of religious bonhomie, a Sikh boy converted his turban into an instant band-aid to help a seriously bleeding lady who had met an accident. The quick intervention prevented in her blood loss and she survived.

The boy named Manjeet Singh, 20 is from Dewar, Tral. He used his turban to plug the injury to a Muslim woman’s wounds after a truck hit her near Awantipora.

According to reports, a 45-year-old woman was hit by a speeding truck in Awantipora, leaving her in a pool of blood. As the woman fell down, with her leg badly injured, the truck sped away, leaving her at the mercy of passersby.

When no one from the crowd reached out to help the injured woman, Manjeet quickly rushed in. “I saw her lying on the road, with blood coming out of her leg,” recalls Manjeet. “I could not resist using my own turban to plug the wound.”

Then without caring about his religious obligation, Manjeet took off his turban and it plugged the injured lady’s wound quickly. “I did what anyone else in my place would have done,” said Manjeet.

In Sikhism turban holds a special place as it is an essential article of faith for male Sikhs. Removing it to help a lady in distress shows the largesse of Manjeet.

Manjeet himself is a story of struggle. At home, Manjeet lives with his handicapped mother, sister, and an elder brother. In January 2018, Manjeet’s father Karnail Singh, a daily-wager in Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST), died and he was recruited in his place as a daily-wager.

“My father remained a daily-wager through-out his 25 years of service. But I was promised that I will be inducted as a permanent staffer,” said Manjeet.  “But so far that promise has not been fulfilled. All I want is a permanent job so that I can feed my family properly.”

After his father’s death, Manjeet is the sole bread-earner for his family, who live in a modest house.