In honor of Sikh Heritage Month, observed in April, Gilman’s Upper School Sikh Students Association President Prabhangad Ahluwalia ’25 introduced guest speaker Dr. Daljeet Saluja ’89, P’24 at assembly on April 23, 2025. Saluja began his talk by painting a picture of life in the 1980s when he was a Gilman student: only three TV stations, slow dial-up internet, phones attached to walls, and mixtapes. “There was no Starbucks on Roland Avenue,” he said, “but there was Eddie’s.”

“And what was Gilman like for me back then?” In his freshman year, there were only 12 students of color in the whole grade and only one other student of Indian descent in the Upper School. He remembered being the first Sikh student in the Upper School, the only student wearing a turban, and the only student with facial hair, which, at the time, went against the strict dress code. “It was hard being different than the entire student body.”

His freshman English teacher routinely told him that hats were not allowed, not understanding that Saluja’s turban was a significant part of his religion, a visual representation of his faith. Saluja’s advisor, Reginald Tickner, along with English teacher (who later became Headmaster from 2007–2013) John E. Schmick ’67 advocated for Saluja to switch into Schmick’s class. The experience “taught me a valuable lesson,” he said. “I should have spoken up for myself.” Later, Headmaster Reddy Finney ’47, who Saluja remembered as knowing every Upper School student by name, proposed an assembly (then called chapel) dedicated to educating the boys about the Sikh religion. “They made me feel like I was part of the Gilman community.”

Saluja recalled many other insights gained over his four years at Gilman. “I learned to be proud and competent, to be seen and heard. Today, I can walk into a room of people I don’t know and have a conversation with anyone because I am an intelligent and articulate Gilman graduate.”

After completing his medical residency, Saluja opened an outpatient family care practice. During his first week, he saw only three patients. Now, with a lot of networking, hard work, and a little luck, that same practice has grown into one of the busiest independent practices in Baltimore City, with 15 physicians.

Additionally, Saluja serves as medical director for several organizations. He shared about an experience running into a Gilman alum as he interviewed for one of those positions and the camaraderie he felt meeting a fellow Greyhound, even one who had graduated more than 20 years before him. He attributes the opportunities that have come his way, in large part, to his effective leadership and communication skills, or, as he put it, “things I learned at Gilman.”