Editor’s Note: This opinion editorial first appeared in the Ashby Road Naujawans @Greentown Facebook page.
I WOULD like to share an incident that took place at Muar Hospital in 1979. At that time, several Sikh doctors held senior positions at the hospital.
Dr K. N. Singh was the consultant gynaecologist, Datuk L. Minder Singh was the consultant surgeon and Dr Mukhtiar Singh was the CMHO (chief medical and health officer) of the hospital.
I was working there as a Medical Officer – doing eye surgery under the supervision of Dr Tariq, a consultant eye surgeon from Lahore who spoke very fluent Punjabi.
During that period, Christian missionary activity was quite active, including efforts to encourage doctors and others to embrace Christianity. The hospital ‘s matron was a Christian who used to hold Christian sermons at her house on Sundays.
There was a newly married Sikh couple, both doctors doing their internship at the hospital. The husband was a turbaned Sikh. I came to know that the couple had been attending these gatherings and were considering embracing Christianity.
When I heard about this, I told the matron that I would also like to attend one of the Sunday gatherings at her house.
She welcomed me, perhaps thinking that I, too, was interested in Christianity. At the gathering, I saw the young Sikh couple there. I asked the matron whether I could go on stage and say a few words. She happily agreed.
Sacrifices of revered Sikhs
I spoke directly to the young couple and reminded them of Sikh history and the sacrifices made by our Gurus and Shaheeds to remain steadfast in their faith.
I spoke about Bhai Mati Das Ji (revered Sikh martyr who was executed in Delhi on November 11, 1675 under the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb) who was sawn in two and of Bhai Taru Singh Ji who endured the removal of his scalp rather than abandon his Sikh faith.
I reminded them of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the sacrifice of his four Sahibzade. (martyred sons). I also spoke about Guru Arjan Dev Ji, our Fifth Guru, who endured terrible torture and martyrdom rather than compromise his principles and faith.
I was very happy that those few words had an effect. The wife changed her mind and she in turn helped her husband change his mind. They decided to remain with the Sikh faith.
I had also personally witnessed Christian missionaries going from house to house during the late 1950s, particularly between 1955 and 1959.
For many of us growing up at that time, our Gurdwara (Sikh temple) played an important role in strengthening our Sikh identity.
The walls of the Darbar Sahib (the main prayer hall inside a Sikh gurdwara) often carried pictures depicting our Gurus, Sikh history and the Shaheeds. As young Sikhs, these images reminded us of our history and the sacrifices made before us.
Today, many such historical pictures have been removed from Gurdwara because some consider their display to be contrary to Sikh principles.
Whatever one’s view on this may be, I feel it is important that our younger generations continue to learn about the Gurus, the Sahibzade, the Shaheeds (a witness to truth, righteousness and defender of the oppressed) and the sacrifices that shaped Sikh history.
If we do not teach our history to our children, we should not be surprised if they grow up knowing very little about it. – Oct 15, 2026
Originally from Rasa, Selangor, Dr Kernail Singh completed his horsemanship in Kota Bharu in 1976 and later became an eye specialist and HOD (head of department) at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (HKL) before moving into private practice.
He is renowned as a compassionate medical approach who famously incorporated playing Sukhmani Sahib (revered sacred hymn) and serving parsad (a sacred sweet, sanctified food offering distributed to the congregation in a Gurdwara) for his patients.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Jasmail Singh in Ashby Road Naujawans @Greentown/Facebook
