The perennial guard
March 21, 2023
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • My States
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • My States
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • My States
  • Vocal4Local
  • Subscribe
Home General

The perennial guard

Archive Manager by WEB DESK
Apr 29, 2012, 12:00 am IST
in General
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

REPORT-2

Sudhansu R Das

His dwelling place is a small temple like structure located at the height of 4,000 meters between Tsomgo Lake and Kupup Valley in east Gangtok towards Indo China border. His bed, shoes, sleepers and a few household items are cleaned and kept in proper place every day. The soldiers there who look after the shrine say the bed gets crumbled in the morning and the shoes get wet and muddy every day.  A bunker is still there right behind the temple from where he fought the intruding Chinese army in 1962. There is a small three feet deep water hole where tourists throw coin and try to find it. It is believed those who trace their coin, their wishes are fulfilled.  Major Baba Harbhajan Singh as he is known among the natives continues to guard India’s border in Sikkim even after his death in 1968 due to an accident. He was caught in an avalanche and lost his life. Later a shrine was built by the Indian soldiers which is widely known as Baba Mandir.

Since then Baba Harbhajan Singh has been the guiding angel for thousands of Indian soldiers who brave the snow and chilly wind to guard India’s border in Sikkim. The soldiers feel there is somebody to protect them in this cold and desolate place. The news of Baba passing on intelligence inputs to Indian soldiers from across the border is widely circulated. Hundreds of tourist taxi drivers here believe Baba comes to their rescue when they are in difficult time.

“Once my taxi slid out of road and was heading sharp down only to be locked in a tree branch. I escaped unscathed with little damage to my taxi due to Baba’s grace,” reminisces Narayan, a taxi driver from Sikkim.  The belief of Major Harbhajan Singh’s omnipresence and his timely help to natives and soldiers trapped in snow storm or caught in deep gorge is very strong in this Himalayan kingdom. Even the Chinese soldiers have started believing the Baba’s presence. A chair is placed for him during the Flag meeting between Indian and Chinese soldiers at Nathula Gate.

Interestingly, Baba Harbhajan Singh is treated as a regular army personnel and he is granted leave to visit his native place at Kuka Village in Kapurthala district of Punjab every year.  In September month an army jeep departs with his suitcase and beddings to the nearest railway station at Jalpaiguri.  Whether Major Harbhajan Singh really guards Indo China border or not the belief has boosted the confidence of the Indian soldiers in this inhospitable region.Baba Mandir has become a must see tourist destination as thousands of tourists visit this place every year. Sikkim is one of the rarest ecologically balanced places in the world. Thanks to the fear of Baba’s punishment which let natives and soldiers protect the rich flora and fauna of this region.  The income from tourism in Sikkim is more than Rs 230 crore per annum and is increasing every year. The belief indirectly serves the economy, works as a moral booster for the army personnel and helps preserve the biodiversity of this region.

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

SPECIAL REPORT

Next News

Allegations of kickbacks?

Related News

“Japan & India are in unique position in world history”: PM Modi holds key talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida

“Japan & India are in unique position in world history”: PM Modi holds key talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida

Radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik likely to be deported from Oman

Radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik likely to be deported from Oman

Gyanvapi: Allahabad High Court gives another extension to ASI to submit its report on Shivling’s evaluation

Gyanvapi: Allahabad High Court gives another extension to ASI to submit its report on Shivling’s evaluation

Son of KLF terrorist, ISI-linked ‘Avtar Singh Khanda’ arrested for pulling down Indian Flag at Embassy in London

Son of KLF terrorist, ISI-linked ‘Avtar Singh Khanda’ arrested for pulling down Indian Flag at Embassy in London

Indian advocacy group FIIDS suspect ISI behind attacks on Indian missions in London and San Francisco by Khalistanis

Indian advocacy group FIIDS suspect ISI behind attacks on Indian missions in London and San Francisco by Khalistanis

PM Modi security breach: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take action against ex-Punjab DGP, other cops

PM Modi security breach: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take action against ex-Punjab DGP, other cops

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

“Japan & India are in unique position in world history”: PM Modi holds key talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida

“Japan & India are in unique position in world history”: PM Modi holds key talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida

Radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik likely to be deported from Oman

Radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik likely to be deported from Oman

Gyanvapi: Allahabad High Court gives another extension to ASI to submit its report on Shivling’s evaluation

Gyanvapi: Allahabad High Court gives another extension to ASI to submit its report on Shivling’s evaluation

Son of KLF terrorist, ISI-linked ‘Avtar Singh Khanda’ arrested for pulling down Indian Flag at Embassy in London

Son of KLF terrorist, ISI-linked ‘Avtar Singh Khanda’ arrested for pulling down Indian Flag at Embassy in London

Indian advocacy group FIIDS suspect ISI behind attacks on Indian missions in London and San Francisco by Khalistanis

Indian advocacy group FIIDS suspect ISI behind attacks on Indian missions in London and San Francisco by Khalistanis

PM Modi security breach: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take action against ex-Punjab DGP, other cops

PM Modi security breach: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take action against ex-Punjab DGP, other cops

Modi Government has doubled the number of airports from 74 in 2014 to 148: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

Modi Government has doubled the number of airports from 74 in 2014 to 148: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia

Assam: Khalistani extremist Amritpal Singh’s uncle Harjit Singh brought to Dibrugarh jail

Assam: Khalistani extremist Amritpal Singh’s uncle Harjit Singh brought to Dibrugarh jail

Palghar Sadhu Lynching Case: Petitioners tell SC that case can be disposed of as Maharashtra Govt agrees to CBI probe

Palghar Sadhu Lynching Case: Petitioners tell SC that case can be disposed of as Maharashtra Govt agrees to CBI probe

MHA recommends CBI inquiry against activist Harsh Mander’s Aman Biradari NGO for FCRA violations

MHA recommends CBI inquiry against activist Harsh Mander’s Aman Biradari NGO for FCRA violations

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • My States
  • Vocal4Local
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies