Jehangir Saleh

Growing Up

One of his first jobs during high school was at his parents’ coffee shop, located near a retirement home. He charmed the senior customers on walkers and wheelchairs, many of whom came to the shop just to chat with him.

1. April 9, 1985Born in Toronto.
2. September 25, 1999The earliest dated piece of his writing, “The Million-Mile Road”.

Music, Art & Ideas

He also followed his passion for music, practising drums and tabla in his room to the delight of other patients, who were accustomed to the monotonous beeps of health monitors.

• Poetry145 poems, 1999–2010
• Writings39 essays, letters and stories, 2001–2013

University & Philosophy

While enduring several hours of treatment and physical therapy each day, he pursued an undergraduate degree in philosophy at Ryerson University.

Jehangir studied philosophy as a way to understand and cope with his condition: “If God made the trees and water, then he also made cystic fibrosis,” he once said. “There must be some lessons, some aspect of human life that having an illness speaks to. I want to figure that out.” Using himself as the subject, he won several scholarships for his study of the experience of the body in chronic illness. When he was 22, he presented his work at a philosophy conference in Oxford, England. He started a master’s program in philosophy at the University of Guelph, but had to take a leave of absence due to his worsening condition.

1. 2007A 2007 university record lists Jehangir for a third term as an undergraduate member of the Research Ethics Board (PDF, page 55).
2. March 2008Presents a paper on “disorder” in Hamlet at the Arteries conference, now Kaleidoscope.
3. 2008Presents “The Experience of the Body in Chronic Illness” at a philosophy conference in Oxford.
4. 2009Graduates from the Arts & Contemporary Studies program at Ryerson.
5. May 24, 2012The University of Guelph’s “At Guelph” publishes “Philosophy Helps Student Cope With Chronic Illness”.

• The Experience of the Body in Chronic Illnesshis paper, Oxford 2008
• Philosophy Helps Student Cope With Chronic IllnessAt Guelph, 2012

Living Fully

Many looked at his illness and shortened life expectancy with pity, but Jehangir saw it as a reason to live life to the fullest. He launched a website where people could propose activities to do if “they were dying tomorrow,” and then made them happen; this led him to adventures such as singing Christmas carols in the Toronto subway and creating a community art canvas in a local park. He once crammed a group of 30 patients, philosophers, and friends into his hospital room for a talent show turned dance party. He surely breached many hospital rules in the process, but his nurses overlooked them.

In 2010, Jehangir and his cousin Imran invited people to share something they wanted to do, then helped bring selected ideas to life. Activities reported by The Eyeopener included a dinner at the CN Tower, subway caroling, an art event in a park and tango in Yonge-Dundas Square. The project created opportunities for connection through shared experiences.

1. June 13, 2010After 55 days in hospital, writes “Dear Lovely Friends”: his room is now a coffee shop.

• Live life to the fullest contesthis site
• Live Like You’re DyingThe Eyeopener, 2014

Friends & Community

He was unfailing in seeking to find true meaning in every encounter and relationship and he fostered a strong and deeply memorable sense of shared community among cystic fibrosis patients, families, caregivers and clinicians.

He bought a fish to keep him company and started a contest to name it; “Oscar” won out.

He demanded that those around him make the most of their lives, and worked to help them find meaning so they would live well after he was gone. He confronted friends and relatives on issues they were avoiding – a bad relationship, a mental illness, a family dispute. “My sense is that …” was his gentle way of guiding you to face your challenge.

• Share a story, video, or thought about Jehangir on his Facebook page

His Experience With Illness

Jehangir was born with cystic fibrosis, which caused his lungs to fill with thick mucus and made every breath an effort. When he was 12, his illness caused his growth to stunt and he was bullied at school.

At 18, his illness forced him into frequent stays on the sixth floor of St. Michael’s Hospital, which became his home away from home.

When hospital stays began to last months rather than weeks, a chasm developed between Jehangir’s boundless energy and the ability of his lungs to keep up. He said he felt as if he were living in someone else’s body. It robbed him of the chance to do the things he loved and led to several bouts with depression.

Born April 9, 1985, in Toronto he died June 28, 2013, in Toronto, due to complications from cystic fibrosis, aged 28.

1. 2011–2013Writes the Philosophy of Illness blog.

His Legacy

Jehangir’s memorial service included heartfelt farewells, a performance by his tabla ensemble, and readings of his poetry. His friends and loved ones are exploring starting a lecture series dedicated to his philosophical quest on the meaning of illness. They are comforted by the hope that he has finally reached his own Graceland, where every breath comes easy.

In 2014, Jehangir’s family established a fund in his memory at the university now known as Toronto Metropolitan University. His legacy continues through public events, undergraduate research and a separate award recognizing students’ kindness.

1. January 20, 2014“Lives Lived: Jehangir Saleh, 28” by Imran Saleh in the Globe and Mail.
2. October 27, 2015The first Jehangir Saleh Lecture: Professor Havi Carel.
3. 2016–2019Lectures by Kay Toombs (2016), Drew Leder (2017), John Russon (2018) and Todd May (2019).
4. November 21, 2025The Kaleidoscope conference at Toronto Metropolitan University honours him.

• The Jehangir Saleh Fund and the lecturesLegacy
• His life and legacy, year by yearTimeline