Baba Harbhajan Singh was born into a Sikh family on August 30th 1946 in the village of Sadrana in district Gujjarawala Punjab (Pakistan). In June 1956 he enlisted as a soldier in Amritsar and joined the Signal Corps. On 30 June 1965, he was granted a commission and posted to the 14 Rajput Regiment. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 he served as an Adjutant of his unit and was later transferred to the 18 Rajput. It was with this regiment that he served until his death on 4 October 1968 in Sikkim.
He died in 1968 near the Nathu La in eastern Sikkim, India.According to legend, Singh drowned in a glacier while leading a column of mules carrying supplies to a remote outpost. His remains were found after a three-day search. His body was subsequently cremated with full military honors. The legend further claims that the late Singh who helped the search party find his body. Still later, through a dream, he instructed one of his colleagues to build and maintain a shrine in his memory. Some Indian soldiers believe that in the event of a war between India and China, Baba would warn the Indian soldiers of an impending attack at least three days in advance. During flag meetings between the two nations at Nathu La, the Chinese set a chair aside to honor him.
Some striking facts about Singh as told by the Army officials.
1. Baba warns the soldiers of any impending attacks atleast 3 days in advance. He is still guarding the international boundaries of the two countries.
2. Baba Mandir today has three rooms, Baba’s office, store room and living room. In the living room every item of his need has been neatly kept. His bed, shoes, slippers, water bottle, ironed uniform, an umbrella – everything. His room is cleaned every morning.
3.n some mornings, soldiers have found crumpled bedsheet and his muddy shoes in the room.. On a lot of occasions, soldiers have discovered that Baba still visits the camps and his post.
7. He still draws a Major’s salary every month.
10. still gets 2 months of leave every year. Every year on 11 September, his belongings are sent to his hometown. The train departs from New Jalpaiguri station, Siliguri, West Bengal. A berth is reserved in his name and is left empty for the entire journey.
11. A team of soldiers accompanies him till his hometown. The Army is on high alert when Baba is on leave.
