​Baba Harbhajan Singh: Ghost Soldier on Duty in Indian Army

Baba Harbhajan Singh was born in Brondal village of Kapurthala, Punjab. Baba Harbhajan Singh was born into a Sikh family on 30th August 1946. After completing his preliminary education in the school of his village, he further matriculated from DAV High School in Patti, Punjab in March 1965.

He worked in the Dogra Regiment during the 1962 China-India War.

During this time, on October 4, 1968, while escorting a mule caravan Sepoy Harbhajan Singh found himself in an unfortunate situation and lost his life as he fell into a fast-flowing stream.

Hoping to find Sepoy Harbhajan Singh, the Indian army deployed an extensive search party, which sadly returned empty-handed.

If legends are to be believed, even after his death Martyr Harbhajan Singh’s spirit still guards India’s Borders and protects his motherland from foreign enemies.

Legend of Baba Harbhajan Singh

If stories are to be believed, it is said that after this tragic incident, Sepoy Harbhajan Singh appeared in the dreams of his fellow soldier Pritam Singh and told him where he died.

Surprisingly, when matters were investigated, Martyr Harbhajan Singh’s body was found in that exact spot as was told to Pritam Singh, thus helping the army in its own search party.

After this, many incidents kept on occurring that made the soldiers feel the dead soldier’s presence. As days passed on, the stories of the guardian spirit of Sepoy Harbhajan Singh slowly took a religious turn and became popular folklore in the Indian Army, especially near the Nathu La pass in Sikkim where he died.

Along with considering him the “Hero of Nathu La”, the soldiers consider him a saint and their guardian who protects them.

All this made the soldiers of the Indian Army refer to the martyred Harbhajan Singh as Baba Harbhajan Singh.

According to the legends, there have been multiple reports of soldiers claiming that in an event of war between India and China, Baba Harbhajan Singh had warned the Indian soldiers of an approaching attack on our borders in advance.

Many soldiers claim that Baba himself had disciplined army officials with a slap for not maintaining proper attire or not doing their duty well.

Even in times of war, the aggressive Chinese army is known to pay respect to Baba Harbhajan Singh. To pay respect to the spirit, they even keep an empty chair in their customary flag meetings.

Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial Temple

Located between Nathula and Jelepla pass at an altitude of 13,123 feet and about 52 km from Gangtok, Baba Harbhajan Singh Temple is a unique destination mainly due to the legacy attached to it.

His spirit is believed to protect every soldier in the inhospitable, high-altitude terrain of the Eastern Himalayas.

Some Striking Facts about Baba Harbhajan Singh

1. Baba warns the soldiers of any impending attacks at least 3 days in advance. He is still guarding the international boundaries of the two countries.
2. During the customary flag meetings between India and China, the Chinese army still sets a chair aside for Baba.
3. Baba Mandir today has three rooms, Baba’s office, store room, and living room. Every item of his needs has been neatly kept in the living room. His bed, shoes, slippers, water bottle, ironed uniform, an umbrella - everything.
4. His room is cleaned every morning.
5. On some mornings, soldiers have found a crumpled bedsheet and his muddy shoes in the room.
6. 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.
8. He still gets 2 months of leave every year.
9. Every year on 11 September, his belongings are sent to his hometown. The train departs from New Jalpaiguri station, Siliguri, West Bengal.
10. A berth is reserved in his name and is left empty for the entire journey.
11. A team of soldiers accompanies him to his hometown.
12. The Army is on high alert when Baba is on leave.