Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 4
Almost 12 years since the Indian Army stopped the tradition of ceremoniously bringing back the ‘soul’ of dead Sepoy Harbhajan Singh for a leave to his native Koke village in Kapurthala from near Doklam on the India-China border, where he was posted, a recent short film, ‘Plus Minus’, has again revived its memories.The film has been recently released by Delhi-based celebrated YouTuber and actor Bhuvan Bam on his channel BB Ki Vines. The co-star in the 18-minute film is popular actress Divya Dutta. The film has already touched 1.4 crore views in two weeks.
The Army followed the tradition of bringing back the uniform of the Sepoy for 38 years even after his death via Dibrugarh Express every year on September 13. Army men from his 23 Punjab Regiment used to be specially deployed for leaving his uniform and bringing it back to the regiment after a two-month leave. The jawans believed that even after his death, he continued to guide them in their dreams. Hence, they started worshipping him in a temple close to the Nathula Pass near Sikkim.The photo opportunity and an annual news feature which all local media used to carry earlier got stopped when the Army had to discontinue the practice. The tradition stopped following a petition filed by Subedar Piara Singh, an ex-serviceman from Raipur Rasulpur village near here.
As the film is now doing rounds on the social media, the petitioner is no more. His son Amrik Singh shared that his dad passed away about four years ago.
“Had he seen the film that propagates the superstition, he would have surely reacted strongly to it again. He fought against the disbelief that was being spread by the Army, which eventually had to do away with the practice after 2006,” he said.
Having retired in 1970 after serving the 1st Sikh Light Infantry Battalion, Subedar Piara Singh had moved a local court against the Defence Ministry and Commanding Officer of 23 Punjab, asking them to controvert on the matter and ensure that such “superstitions” were not advertised in the future.
He had contended that he read that Jawan Harbhajan Singh of 23 Punjab deployed on the Indo-China border died on duty on October 4, 1968, but
was still believed to be alive in the form of a
ghost and seeking all amenities of a living person, including pay and allowances, annual leave and promotions.
The ex-serviceman pointed out that such
stories leads to a conclusion that Army believes in “live martyr” Baba Harbhajan Singh. He also sought to know how an Honorary Subedar Major could be promoted as Honorary Captain.
The Commanding Officer of the Regiment had then replied, “The unit was deployed in Sikkim under 164 Mountain Brigade 27 Mountain Division from October 1967 to December 1970. He said Sepoy Harbhajan Singh was serving the unit during the period. On October 4, 1968, when he was on patrol, he slipped and fell in a fast-flowing stream. His body was washed away by the fast current along with weapon and found subsequently after a search. The Sepoy was unmarried.”
He was then 22. The CO had to clarify that the unit was not aware of granting any rank to the dead soldier or any financial assistance to the next of kin as it showed nowhere on records. Later, the practice got stopped.
1.4 crore views in two weeks
The short film, ‘Plus Minus’, has been recently released by Delhi-based celebrated YouTuber and actor Bhuvan Bam on his channel BB Ki Vines. The co-star in the 18-minute film is popular actress Divya Dutta. The film has already touched 1.4 crore views in two weeks.