Rajnath Singh's Sikkim Visit Revives Legend Of Baba Harbhajan, The Soldier Who Guards After Death

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's Diwali visit to Sikkim's forward areas has brought renewed attention to the enduring legend of Baba Harbhajan Singh, an Indian Army soldier whom troops believe continues to guard the country's frontier with China even decades after his death.

The soldier, who drowned in a stream in October 1968 at the age of 22, occupies a unique place in Indian military folklore. Stories of his spirit warning soldiers about impending attacks, dangerous terrain and enemy movements have become part of the traditions surrounding the high-altitude border region.

Singh visited the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial on November 8, paying his respects to the soldier whose legacy continues to hold a special place in the military and civilian traditions of Sikkim, the Defence Ministry said on Monday.

The Defence Minister was in the forward areas to celebrate Diwali with personnel of the Army's Trishakti Corps (33 Corps). He was accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General VMB Krishnan and 33 Corps Commander Lieutenant General Man Raj Singh Mann, among other senior officers.

Earlier, Singh visited the Sherathang War Memorial near Nathu La and paid tribute to Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La clashes with China. He also interacted with troops deployed in the challenging high-altitude region, describing them as the brightest lights of Diwali and praising their courage, professionalism and dedication.

How a young soldier became a military legend

Harbhajan Singh belonged to the 23rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment and was posted in eastern Sikkim. In October 1968, while escorting a convoy of mules carrying supplies near Nathu La, he reportedly slipped into a stream and drowned.

Nathu La is one of the two Himalayan passes where Indian and Chinese troops fought fierce battles in 1967, the other being Cho La. The clashes ended in an Indian victory, with one account putting Indian casualties at 88 and Chinese casualties at 340.

Harbhajan Singh's body was recovered several days after his disappearance. However, according to military folklore, the circumstances surrounding its recovery marked the beginning of the legend associated with him.

Former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane recounted the story in his book, 'The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries', published on April 22, 2026.

In a chapter titled 'Saintly Sentinels: Legacy in Legend', Naravane wrote that a fellow soldier claimed Harbhajan Singh had appeared in his dream and directed him to the exact location where his body could be found.

The incident reportedly strengthened the belief among soldiers that Harbhajan Singh had not entirely departed and continued to watch over his fellow personnel deployed along the frontier.

Stories subsequently emerged of soldiers receiving warnings from him in their dreams about possible enemy attacks, dangerous terrain and movements across the border. Some of these predictions were believed to have been remarkably accurate.

Naravane also described accounts of sentries struggling to stay awake during freezing winter nights. According to the stories, soldiers who were about to doze off while on duty claimed they were suddenly slapped awake by an unseen presence.

A shrine built in his memory becomes a pilgrimage site

Following his death, the Army constructed a shrine near Chhokya Chho, where Harbhajan Singh had been stationed during his final posting. The memorial, situated at an altitude of 13,123 feet along the road connecting Nathu La and Jelep La, gradually developed into a pilgrimage destination.

Naravane wrote that reaching the original shrine involved climbing approximately 50 steps, which could be particularly difficult for tourists and visitors because of the thin air at that altitude.

To make the site more accessible, a new shrine, popularly known as New Baba Mandir, was constructed at the junction of the Kupup-Gnathang Road and the track leading towards Menmecho Lake. Travellers passing through the area routinely stop there to seek the soldier's blessings.

Naravane also recalled his personal association with the shrine. During his first posting to Sikkim in 1980, he visited the original memorial and sought Baba Harbhajan Singh's blessings.

The former Army chief described how soldiers continued to maintain the shrine and the soldier's quarters as though he were still serving in the Army.

"His quarters are maintained with military precision: uniform ironed, boots polished, bed made. In the mornings, sheets are reportedly found crumpled, boots muddy, signs, perhaps, of nightly patrols," Naravane wrote.

The ritual maintenance of his belongings is among the practices that have helped sustain the belief that Harbhajan Singh continues to perform his duties even after death.

Annual leave, promotions and a symbolic retirement

The Army's traditions surrounding Harbhajan Singh extended beyond the maintenance of his shrine.

According to Naravane, the soldier was granted a series of posthumous promotions over the years, eventually reaching the rank of Honorary Captain, the highest rank attainable by personnel from the non-officer cadre.

Until his symbolic retirement, he was also granted annual leave. During this period, his belongings were ceremoniously transported to his hometown in Punjab, with fellow soldiers accompanying them.

A seat was reportedly reserved for him on the train during these journeys, further blurring the distinction between military ritual and the belief in his continued presence.

These practices became an enduring part of the traditions associated with the soldier and reflected the deep affection and reverence with which personnel in the region regarded him.

Chinese troops reportedly leave a chair vacant for Baba Harbhajan

The legend surrounding Harbhajan Singh is also believed to extend beyond the Indian side of the border.

Naravane wrote that during flag meetings between Indian and Chinese troops at Nathu La, Chinese soldiers reportedly left a chair vacant in his honour.

The gesture is seen as a silent acknowledgement of the soldier's enduring presence and the respect his legend commands among personnel on both sides of the frontier.

"Such gestures reflect a shared respect that transcends politics and conflict," Naravane wrote.

He added that the shrine continued to attract soldiers, civilians and tourists, many of whom visit to seek blessings, pray for protection or pay homage to the soldier who became a guardian figure in the region's military folklore.

Rajnath Singh pays tribute to soldiers guarding the frontier

Singh's visit to the memorial formed part of his Diwali celebrations with soldiers deployed in Sikkim's forward areas.

At Sherathang, he praised the personnel for remaining away from their families and continuing to guard the country's borders in difficult weather and terrain. He described their vigilance as a source of security for the entire nation.

The Defence Minister also stressed the importance of discipline and courage, saying that even the most advanced military technology would be of little use without these qualities. He urged personnel to maintain good relations with local communities in the region.

During his visit to the Sherathang War Memorial, Singh highlighted the sacrifices of soldiers from different parts of the country, including Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Assam.

He also referred to the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where approximately 26,000 names of fallen soldiers have been inscribed in golden letters.

While the Sherathang memorial commemorates those who sacrificed their lives in the service of the country, the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial represents a different but equally enduring aspect of military tradition: the belief that a soldier's duty does not necessarily end with his death.

More than five decades after Harbhajan Singh drowned near Nathu La, his story continues to be passed down among soldiers stationed along the India-China frontier, keeping alive the legend of the sentry believed to remain on duty.