Mr Singh tending to the boy

A Sikh student who broke strict religious protocol to save a boy’s life has been rewarded generously for what he did.

Harman Singh, 22, became known around the world for for removing his turban to put underneath the head of six-year-old Daejon Pahia when he was hit by a car.

Neighbours, aided by New Zealand’s One News, have clubbed together to kit out his home with new furniture.

During TV interviews people noticed how sparse his flat was and so they have furnished it for him.


On top of that, he’s got a six months supply of Domino’s Pizzas as a thank you.



After coming to the world’s attention, Harman told the New Zealand Herald: ‘I saw a child down on the ground and a lady was holding him. His head was bleeding, so I unveiled by turban and put it under his head.

Harman on his new sofa (Picture: One News)

He has been praised internationally for his actions (Picture: Facebook)

‘I wasn’t thinking about the turban. I was thinking about the accident and I just thought “He needs something on his head because he’s bleeding”. That’s my job – to help. And I think anyone else would have done the same as me.’

He added: ‘Thousands of people have said “well done”. I was only doing what I had to and trying to be a decent member of the community.

‘Thanks to all who messages, calls… thanks all the worldwide Facebook members who messaged me. I think i just did my job nothing else.’

The Sikh Press Association later posted on Facebook saying: ‘Whilst the story of how this Sikh went out of his way to help an injured child is a beautiful story and nicely covered by nzherald.co.nz, it is entirely inaccurate to say he “put religion aside” to do it.

‘A Sikh is taught to do whatever they can to help someone, especially in the kind of situation seen in the linked article. This is seen in the use of the DuMalla style of turban during war times.

‘DuMalla can be transcribed as meaning ‘two turbans’. One reason this style of turban was worn by warrior Sikhs was to have extra material to use for treatment of wounds and to give to women who may have had clothes ripped in attacks after villages were ransacked. This Sikh did not “put aside religion” to help, he was simply doing what generations of Sikhs have done for centuries.