But, when you brood on any supernatural topic enough, that’s when the crazy juices flow! That’s when you hear something that is stuff of the legends, stories in forbidden books, fables your parents wont tell you! But nonetheless these things happen…Secrets have a way of getting out..don’t they?

Baba Harbajan Singh, martyred Indian soldier continues to live on, in more than just memories. I promise it will surprise you as much as it will spook you. They say, superstition has no bounds, they say people can loose their minds over superstition. Surely you wouldn’t expect the Indian soldiers & Chinese soldiers to continue to pay respects to a dead man like he was still amongst them?

The man who lived on..after dying.

Baba Harbajan Singh, an Indian soldier who continued to make India proud through his years in the service. India has always been proud of its soldiers and will always continue to be. India has also always been too intertwined in a multitude of superstitions and rituals. But what if I told you that these two come together? What if I told you that this is soldier continues to live on(Supernaturally though) in the same area he was posted during his last years.(*Now let that sink in, lets explore the story*)

Who was Baba Harbajan Singh?

Well, when it all began, he was just a proud Indian army soldier like a thousand other soldiers. Born into a Sikh family in Punjab, he went on to become a soldier in Amritsar and soon joined the Corps of Signals. He was posted into the 14 th Rajput regiment, he was later posted into the 18th Rajput regiment where he sadly lost his life(*or maybe not?*). He died on 11th September 1967, at the young age of 27. It was a great loss to his family and to the Indian army.

How did Baba Harbajan Singh lose his life?

On the paper records of the Indian army says that he lost his life during a combat happening in the year 1967. Volatile situations between the Indian army and the PLA during those years were a common sight in Nathula pass region. It was during one of these combats, that Baba Harbajan Singh lost his precious life. This is the official story, this is the story that all the records, facts and even soldiers will tell you!

And then you go on to hear the stuff the legend tells you, the stuff folklore continues to bring life into. All those supernatural things..but what if I tell you that our very own soldiers continue to treat the presence of Baba Harbjan Singh in a very life like manner?

The myth and beyond…

Legend has it, Baba Harbajan Singh was faithfully carrying some necessary supplies to an extreme remote outpost. He was supposedly leading a few mules that were carrying the supplies. During which an accident occurred, owing to which he drowned. They say his mortal remains were found after a 3 day search. What’s going to perk your ears up, is the fact that it is believed that, he himself guided the Search party to find his mortal remains.

Baba Harbajan soon came into the dreams of a Soldier and apparently asked him to build Baba a shrine. This is where the Saint(Baba) status started to associate with the then ‘Harbajan Singh’. He has been also known to grant his followers and believers wishes.Over the years the legend of Baba Harbajan Singh has grabbed the attention of many skeptics and believers alike.

The current scenario that will awe you..

Baba Harbajan Singh is believed to continue to haunt the region even today. And no, he does not scare the shit out of soldiers, on the contrary, the soldiers of the area consider him very much a part of the regiment. Story has it, that even the Chinese soldiers pay respects to this great soldier, it is said that the Chinese also keep a chair empty for Baba Harbajan Singh during flag meetings. Indian soldiers believe that at times of war, Baba warns them at least three days in advance of an uninvited impending visit from across the borders. That’s not it! Baba is said to visit the soldiers rooms at night, there is always a bed that’s kept vacant for him, and many have reported ruffled or used bed sheets, boots and clothes in the morning.

That awwww moment in the ghost story?

Even a ghost soldier has to go home alright! Baba Harbajan Singh has train ticket booked for him every year on 11th September. He is believed to visit his home town, the berth is reserved for him and goes empty the whole journey, nobody can take his place. The local soldiers contribute some money and send it to the family of Baba Harbajan Singh.Some even believe that Baba continues to draw a Major’s salary even today.

Its amazing to see such fascinating and unbelievable things happening. Is it a true story, or just another hyped folklore? We’ll never know. But what will continue to amaze us that India is full of these mysteries that we so dearly believe in, that makes us who we are! And no, not saying that we need to go all superstitious and do crazy stuff! Just saying that we belong to a very very interesting land and we have so many stories to tell!!!