The minuscule numbers of Sikhs in various towns and cities have not deterred them in putting up makeshift facilities in their respective schools, institutions and Gurdwaras to benefit all and sundry around them in the true Sikh tradition of Sarbat da Bhala. As the government has imposed a strict lockdown to meet the raging Covid challenge, Sikhs individually and collectively are pitching in to provide relief to the common man bereft of oxygen and other needs in these difficult times. WSN’s Gurmeet Singh reports.

JHARKHAND, A STATE BLESSED WITH NATURAL RESOURCES  and inhabited by the poorest of poor indigenous peoples with an indigenous leader -Hemant Soren, as its Chief Minister, is battling Covid19 with minimal medical infrastructure and facilities. The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the biggest state-run super speciality hospital situated in the capital city Ranchi, is not fully equipped to deal with the pandemic. With the crisis deepening, the government imposed a full-scale lockdown.

The scare of deadly images from Delhi created a sense of fear and tension, yet the Sikhs came forward to prepare for any impending disaster. Mercifully, there have been no deaths in this state relating to lack of Oxygen or want of timely medical aid.

The Langar of Guru Nanak has taken wings.

The Central Sikh Gurdwara Committee, Jamshedpur took the lead in the state and started the Oxygen Langar Sewa on May 3, 2021. CSGC is an umbrella and coordinating body of the 34 gurdwaras in Jamshedpur. Speaking to WSN on the phone CSGC President Gurmukh Singh Mukhi said, “With deaths happening, people running in need of oxygen day and night, no beds being available in the hospitals in the city, they were witness to this and seeing this they decided to jump into the sewa and provide relief to people.”

“We had oxygen but there were no cylinders and we started collecting them and Guru Sahib blessed us,” he added.

Now with 70 plus oxygen cylinders and beds in the Modern School in the Sakchi Gurudwara Complex, run by Sikhs, they are treating 30 patients on a daily basis in the in-house facility. Patients who do not require beds also walk in to get oxygen and once they recover they leave. On some days, when beds were fully occupied, oxygen supply services were offered on the roadside in the vehicles of patients.

Efficiently managed, one team of 10 Sewadars manages the hospital and another provides food for Covid19 patients across the city to those who cannot cook under the circumstances.

In Ranchi, the Guru Nanak Hospital and Research Centre has been treating Covid patients since last year. Speaking to WSN, Pradeep Singh Chadha, General Secretary of the management committee said that they are working in the footsteps of Guru Sahib to serve the community and society. Their charges are less than the government rates, they provide excellent food and service, are treating all kinds of patients, including symptomatic, critical care and emergency cases.  A dedicated covid administrator and a specialised doctor have been given in charge to deal with the pandemic cases and they are available round the clock. He added, “Akal Purakh has been kind to us as our institution has less mortality rate.”

Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, run by Sikhs of Ranchi, has recently started with Oxygen Cylinders Sewa. with 15 cylinders and more in the offing. Speaking to WSN, Rajendra Singh, Secretary stated that they have started a small project of giving out oxygen cylinders to needy families on a returnable basis. Their attempt is to help people who need oxygen at home.

Harbinder Singh, an active participant in Ranchi Sikh affairs mentioned that should the need arise, they have oxygen cylinders in the Piskamore Gurdwara to cater to emergency needs.

Paramjit Singh Tinku, general secretary of Guru Gobind Singh Public School  Ranchi, a hotelier and prominent youth leader involved in various socio-political activities in the town and state, has made available rooms in his hotel, strategically located on the Station Road of the city for families of police and other personnel, who need isolation after reporting Covid19 positive.

Ashmeet Singh Sidak of the India Young Foundation has been distributing Oxygen cans directly and through the district administration as emergency aid during the Golden Hour before the oxygen-deficient patient reaches a hospital facility.

When this reporter spoke to the local Adivasi population in the markets, they were appreciative of the work of Sikhs in Delhi and were looking forward to a replication of the same in Ranchi and around. It would not be wrong to say, the Langar of Guru Nanak has taken wings.