A Sikh family in Brampton is speaking out against Brampton Civic Hospital after their elderly patriarch, Joginder Singh Kaler, had his beard forcibly shaved without his or his family’s consent while he was receiving medical care. This incident has not only caused deep emotional trauma but also prompted an alarming surge of racist and xenophobic comments online, highlighting the broader issues of racial intolerance and religious ignorance in the country.
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Joginder Singh Kaler, a practicing Sikh who maintained his unshorn hair and beard throughout his life as part of his religious commitment, was admitted to Brampton Civic Hospital in late August for medical treatment. While he was unconscious, the hospital staff contacted his family for permission to shave his beard, citing medical necessity. However, the family firmly declined, reiterating the sacred importance of Kaler’s beard in accordance with Sikh beliefs.
Despite these clear instructions, Kaler’s beard was shaved without further consultation. “My father had never shaved his beard in his entire life,” his son revealed, adding that this act was not just a physical violation but a deep insult to his father’s faith and dignity. In Sikhism, uncut hair, or “Kesh,” is one of the five articles of faith that practicing Sikhs are mandated to uphold as a sign of their devotion to God and their acceptance of divine will.
The family is now seeking accountability from the hospital and demanding more stringent measures to ensure that such violations do not happen again. “This is not just an isolated mistake,” the family said in a statement, “it’s a violation of human rights and religious freedom.”
Instead of receiving widespread support, the Kaler family has been met with a flood of racist comments after sharing their ordeal online. Comments such as “go back to India” and “they do not assimilate, they segregate themselves” have been posted on social media in response to the family’s story. Another individual accused the family of fabricating the situation for personal gain, writing, “probably another new scam idea they came up with.”
These hateful remarks reflect a disturbing undercurrent of racial intolerance that persists in Canadian society. Many Sikhs, like other visible minorities, face ongoing prejudice, despite their long-standing contributions to the fabric of Canadian life.
Jasmeet Sihra, a resident of Malton and practising Sikh, condemned these comments, stating, “The ignorance and hate we’re seeing online only emphasize the lack of understanding of Sikhism and our cultural values. Sikhs have been part of Canada for over a century, contributing in every field, yet we are still treated as outsiders by some.”
For practicing Sikhs, the act of shaving is not merely cosmetic—it is a deeply spiritual matter. According to Ishpreet Singh from Brampton said, “Our hair is a gift from God, and we maintain it as an expression of our acceptance of His will. For someone to shave a Sikh’s beard without consent is not only disrespectful; it’s a desecration of their faith.”
In Sikhism, the uncut hair symbolizes strength, spirituality, and identity. The beard, in particular, is an important expression of devotion and integrity. Jasmeet Sihra further elaborated, “It is not about vanity; it’s about honoring what we believe to be sacred. Forcing a Sikh to cut their hair or beard is akin to stripping away a piece of their soul.”
The removal of Mr. Kaler’s beard was, therefore, a profound violation of his religious freedom, sparking an outcry from the Sikh community, religious organizations, and human rights advocates across Canada. The World Sikh Organization (WSO) expressed its shock and called for better cultural sensitivity training for healthcare professionals.
The hospital has since launched an internal investigation into the incident. A spokesperson for Brampton Civic Hospital expressed regret for the family’s distress and emphasized that patient consent is taken very seriously. However, the Sikh community remains unconvinced, arguing that this is not an isolated incident and that more needs to be done to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Navneet Kaur
The following fellow has been hired under the project ‘Diverse Voices: Amplifying Narratives, Empowering Journalists’ which was made possible through the financial support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s Media Fellowships Program.