I realised later the importance of Chardi Kala in a person. We have all seen it in place, but have we actually taken the time to see why it is so powerful and why our Gurus acknowledged it as a central part of the Sikh ethos?

One patient that springs to mind was a 30 year old Sikh gentleman. In his youth he was treated incorrectly for a fracture of his leg which resulted in a complication that left his leg with permanent weakness and loss of sensation. Unfortunately he had recently suffered a fracture of his right thigh bone (femoral shaft fracture) which required surgery with a plate to be inserted into the leg to help it heal. Unfortunately the fracture was such that the leg remained slightly bowed and the plate was required to stay in longer. He was present at the camp to have the plate removed and this was a long and arduous procedure as some of the screws had lost their threading and could not be loosened easily. The procedure took a team of 2 orthopaedic surgeons over 3 hours to complete.

I mention this patient not because of the difficulty in removing the plate, but rather the tremendous spirit that the patient had within him.  Some would be of the opinion that he was dealt some very unlucky hands in life, and at those times those were my exact sentiments. However, the thing that made him stand out was his positive attitude. He was not defeated by the fact that both his legs had greatly reduced function. He was not afraid of the surgery that would take place. He was not at all frustrated or worried by the fact that many surgeons were attempting to take the last 2 screws out which extended the surgery by 2 hours. Again, he was not defeated or overwhelmed in the slightest. I could see him utter “Wahe Guru” now and then as he lay patiently on the table with a look of serenity and hope across his face. A sincerely humble man who would respond with what almost appeared to be a smile when the doctors asked him if he okay. This man embodied the mentality of “chardi kala” or positive spirits.

Patients waiting for medical attention at the free Baru Sahib Medical Camp

The Power of Chardi Kala

I realised later the importance of Chardi Kala in a person. We have all seen it in place, but have we actually taken the time to see why it is so powerful and why our Gurus acknowledged it as a central part of the Sikh ethos?

Perhaps you know someone who you think is an excellent leader because they are able to stay calm and collected in the toughest of situations. Perhaps they are able to fill you with confidence and motivate you when you feel you’re lacking the juice. In any case, the positive thinking and fearless determination to not let one be conquered by the circumstances allows for the platform to overcome challenges. This is why all those inspirational sports movies we watch have such an uplifting and motivating feel to them, because they create the spirit of “I can and I will”. They are able to deliver a contagious message of hope and determination because the speeches and the music are injected with “Chardi Kala”. This 30 year old man too had an effect on the surgical staff and nurses, as they were indeed just as calm about the surgery and were able to employ any means to safely remove the plate despite the screws being jammed in and having lost their threading. Basically his positivity was contagious and everyone benefitted from it.

I by no means claim to be the expert on ‘Chardi Kala’ and its benefits! However, I know that this experience has made me reflect on the practical importance of just one of the many fundamental teachings of our Gurus. I hope it causes you to think about the importance of positive thinking in a leader too.  This will lead to “Sarbhat Dah Phala” or “blessing for everyone”.

I hope you enjoyed my piece and my reflections of the medical camp. I would like to congratulate the Kalgidhar society and Baru Sahib Gurudwara for making these camps possible and continuing the process. Also big congratulations to all the staff and volunteers for all their efforts in making this a successful camp!

I hope you enjoyed these short diary entries. I will be sending through some short Video documentaries and more photos when I return to Sydney.

Please leave a comment if you have any questions or would like to find out more! 

Regards

Daman Bhatia