Baba Harbhajan Singh

Late Sepoy Harbhajan Singh or Baba Harbhajan Singh, as he is known today was born in the village of Sadrana, Gujjarawala district now in Pakistan. He enrolled himself in the army in the year 1956 as a soldier in the Signal Corps. In the year 1965 he was granted Commission and posted to 14 Rajput Regiment. In the war of 1965 he served as the Adjutant of the Unit and later  was transferred to 18 Rajput.

The hoarding at Baba's Shrine giving a brief introductory description about Baba

On 4th October 1968, he slipped past a glacier near Nathu-La Pass in Sikkim and drowned to death while carrying ration to remote post from Tuku La to Dongohui La. The downline water stream carried his body two kilometres down the nullah. His story doesn't end here.

Baba's shrine with the Tricolour

He appeared in the dreams of one of his co-soldier and guided him to the exact location where he was found after three days of his death. He also instructed one of his colleagues in his dream to construct a shrine in his name. Accordingly, the Unit then constructed a shrine at a place which is 9 kms away from where the present shrine stands today.

The idol of Baba with photos of Hindu and Sikh Gods surrounding him

Even after his death, Baba guards the frontiers and warns soldiers of any impending attack at least three days in advance. Resides among the soldiers guarding there many stories about Baba waking up soldiers who fall asleep during night duty and night patrolling. Indian Army has accepted his presence in the post with his colleagues even after his death and his salary was being sent to his family without any fail. He also received two promotions and was promoted to the rank of a Captain. He also gets two months of leave every year and soldiers carry his picture along with his belongings to his native. A special arrangement is made in such a manner that a train seat is left empty in the entire journey. The army deployed at the post becomes extra cautious whenever Baba is on leave.

Baba's office room

He is not only alive in the beliefs of Indian Army; but equally amongst the Chinese troops posted across the Border. Nathu-La is one among the four posts where Ind-China meets are help. Chinese Army has also admitted seeing Baba on several occasions doing patrolling near the border. During any customary meets between both the armies the Chinese army still keeps a seat empty as a tribute to Baba.

Baba's bedroom with his well maintained uniform beside

The current shrine of Baba is reconstructed at the junction of Kupup Gnathang road and the pathway leading to Menmoichu Lake as apart of the watershed memorial complex. The Baba  Mandir is a three-roomed structure. The central room has a portrait of Baba with some portrait of Hindu and Sikh Gods. The room to the right is the personal room of  Baba with household belongings like clothes, slippers, bed, shoes etc. The room to the left is his office room cum store room. Water bottles, slippers and tooth brushes are kept at stock in the store room. It is believed that the water kept at Baba Harbhajan Shrine is capable of healing ailing people. It is also believed that the slippers kept there helps people with foot problems.

Jawan's distributing prasad to devotees at Baba's shrine

We all are born with a debt to our motherland. As we start working for the betterment of the land and its citizens we start repaying the debt. The day we give our ultimate sacrifice for our motherland we can consider complete repayment of the debt. However, there are people who believe that death can take the soul apart of the human body but the patriotism remains within. Baba's love towards our motherland is an example of extraordinary service to our motherland. Salute to revered Baba for his services to our motherland.

Retro Town

Retro Town is city located restaurant which is newly opened at Sixmile, Guwahati. The restaurant is a must for food lovers in the city. It is also the right hunt for party animals.

The theme of the restaurant alluringly draws the traces of the glorious gone-by era that has been shrouded in people’s memories. The entrance itself has beautifully decorated old jeep steering wheel, a saxophone, cassette player, a typewriter and a telephone. These things which have been replaced by modern gizmos take you back to antiquity. The restaurant is a paradise for indoor game lovers featuring a pool table and a carom table. The ambience is often thrilled by live bands playing classic rock and pop. The dais of the restaurant is open for young and blooming bands of the city giving the crowd a chance to hear to the upcoming bands live. There is also a dance floor for people who love to shake themselves a bit to the live music. There are lots of places around to go for a click or a selfie.

The entrance to  the restaurant

As the door opens

As you walk ahead from the dance floor, the door opens to an open roof top restaurant and thus giving you an experience to dine in the city’s biggest roof top space restaurant. This gives you an option, or rather puts you in a dilemma whether to dine in solitude with some open air breeze or to enjoy the food with some classic rock.

The owners of this place are two young boys who firmly believe that a restaurant is not just about good food. They have designed this place keeping in mind the need for a perfect ambience and satisfying service. They have belief that food isn’t about a meal, it is rather a culture. They have designed their Carte de Jour from various kitchens across the globe. They have Indian breads and dishes, Mughlai, Chinese, Italian, American and French. The Chef also has specially designed menus for every weekday dinner. Sizzlers and Sea Food also form a part of the kitchen for the lovers of it. The helping staffs of the restaurant are well experienced to achieve customer satisfaction.

The menu

I have travelled across several cities and gobbled up at several restaurants, and I haven’t found so many which gives you such a wide space and a choice to choose upon among two contrasting ambiences. Also the wide recourse in the menu gives a chance to taste wide range of dishes. The availability of parking space is also a major reason for thumbs up to this great place.

The Unsung Hero

He always wanted to be a soldier. Once when asked by the teacher in lower primary regarding the aim of his life, he replied that he wanted to be a soldier and die saving the frontiers. Instead of appreciating such wonderful words from such an young boy, everyone laughed at him. They saw the fat and stout boy and not the brave-heart within.

He grew up taming the same aim. He tried hard, but he couldn't shed weight. He was rejected by the defence forces because of his weight. He was left disheartened every time. He didn't let the grief stay long and he kept trying.

It took him sometime to understand that service to the countrymen meant service to the country ans that he didn't need an uniform to serve his motherland. He started doing odd jobs which none could imagine. He filled potholes, taught kids who couldn't afford tuition's, and spend most time working with farmers in the fields. His life went along by rendering service to the people. He gave all time for community service. 

He visited a nearby town for an event. There was a huge crowd. His source of recreation was  such small town mela's where he exchanged conversations with those few people whom  he knew. Not many people knew him. Whosoever he was acquainted to, knew him as the old teacher's  kid. His duties always remained unnoticed. He neither publicised nor ever he repented. As he was strolling across the stall's he noticed a miscreant pull out the grenade pin and throw it towards the crowd. He had no time to decide. His decision was to be taken in an impulse. He gave no other thoughts and jumped above the grenade covering the grenade with his chest. The grenade burst pushing splinters across the young boys chest and tearing apart his muscles from the bones. It took no time for the soul to leave his torn body. He died minimising the impact with least casualties. The crowd enquired to the panel of old and known men from the villages about the whereabouts of the brave boy and they found out that he was the old teacher's son. Soon as the old teacher arrived weeping to see his sons corpse, the old folk pointed towards the teacher and said, "There comes the  brave-heart's father."

The father wept at the young son's death. The crowd cheered the bravery. A hero left the world saving it. They mourned his death only to forget him just after a few months, precisely after weeks.

Badluram Ka Badan

Badluram Ka Badan is the regimental march song for Assam Regiment. The regimental march song has traces from the Second World War. Indian Soldiers were taken to fight in the war. Every soldier at war was entitled to certain ration. It was the Quarter Master's responsibility to report deaths and thereby stop ration for the same and continue for the rest. However the Quarter Master of the battalion that was at the front didn't report the death of a soldier named Badluram and continued issuing ration in his name. The excess ration that had been released in the name of Badluram was surplus  and it got piled up for few months. Eventually during the phase of the war when the Japanese Army surrounded the Assam Regiment and cut off the regiment from all kinds of assistance the regiment suffered scarcity of ration. It was then the excess ration which the Quarter Master kept drawing in the name of Badluram helped the entire regiment from starving and the entire regiment had the ration even when they were cut off from logistical assistance. The regimental song is a tribute to Badluram. The lyrics of the song goes like this

Ek khubsurat ladki thi…

Usko dekh ke rifleman…

Chindi khichna bhul gaya…

Havaldar Major dekh liya…

Usko pittu lagaya…

Badluram ek sipahi thaa…

Japan war me mar gaya…

Quarter Master smart thaa…

Usney ration nikala…

Badluram ka badan zamin ke nichey hain…

Toh humein uska ration milta hain…

Sabashh… hallelujah…

Toh humein uska ration milta hain…

Tagra Raho!

Jai Hind

He killed the child

A young kid in his early teens walked to school holding his younger brother who was in such a age when school usually meant a place to unite with co-agers and play until they realize hunger. As the bell rang, a man who resembled to be an adult, but actually was a person in his early twenties waited rolling his moustaches, smiling a bit, but obviously not laughing. His acquintances often said, they had forgotten how he looked whenever he smiled. He walked with the young kids and asked them to have their lunch and take a nap.

The man often looked at the kids as they played. He saw them smile with joy. He seldom spoke anything. He spoke only when he felt that thee time was getting over. At the call of his one word, the kids ran to their home.

The man fearlessly killed the child. He thought nothing. He wasn't so but he acted merciless. He always saw his younger brothers play and he often thought to join them. He refained himself always. He was still a kid within. He too wanted to play football, walk across streets aimlessly, eat icecream, play holi and live for the child within him. He couldn't. He had already killed the child within him. He had to be an exemplar of a perfect man who was socially accepetable for his brothers. To be an exemplar for his brothers, he had killed himself.

Things to do in Dhubri

Dhubri district lies to the Easternmost part of the state of Assam bordering internationally with Bangladesh and nationally with West Bengal. It is one of the most populous districts of the state. Dhubri is filled with scenic beauty and is a heaven for fish lovers. There are a few hotspots around the district and are explorable for first-timers to the district.

• Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Gurdwara Dhubri is one of the famous pilgrimage sites in the district. It is located in Dhubri town itself. The first Sikh Guru Guru Nanak Dev visited the place in 1505 AD and he met Srimanta Sankardeva on his way from Dhaka to Assam. Sahidee-Guru-Parav is one of the renowned festivals which his held here every here. The place although holds importance for people of Sikh religious beliefs, but it attracts people from all religions.

• Mahamaya Dham is located at Bogribari, between Dhubri and Bilasipara town. The temple has its significance from past 400 years and it was also the presiding deity of the landlord of Parvatjohar. There is a bathing river bank nearby the temple, which is believed to be the bathing site of the Goddess. Every year a Shakti Yogya is performed by the priests of this temple.

• Panbari Mosque, Dhubri is located at Panbari and it has its roots from the era of the Mughal Era. The mosque holds its importance because of its architecture. One of the remarkeable facets of this mosque is the volunteer involvement. People are present round the clock near the donation box to facilitate donation from the bus passengers to the Mosque donation box.

• Panch Peer Dargah, which is located at Dhubri Town is a Mazar Sharif of five Sufi Saints who accompanied Raja Ram Singh during his Assam Invasion. The Dargah attracts people from all religious backgrounds and is a perfect exemplar of religious harmony.

• Netai Dhubunir Ghat at Dhubri Town is also a nature lovers paradise. It is a port connecting Dhubri Town with Medettari and Fakirganj. There is a small park attached and it a hotspot for Morning strollers of the town. It is one of the famous spots in the dusk to go on a date with your better half with the beautiful river breeze gently kissing you.

• The park at Gauripur also holds its significance. One can sit beside the pond and enjoy his day. Mostly cricket tournaments go on the beside field and one can stop by and enjoy the cricket while sipping his evening tea. To add to the list, there are several fast food joints nearby.

• The Hawamahal or Pratima Pandey Baruah's palace is also a noteworthy place to visit. The palace is now maintained by her relatives and the charm of its architecture has faded. However one can find the beauty and glory of Koch - Rajbangshi's hidden amidst the old walls.

• The marketnear the Panbari Mosque often holds beautiful Bangladeshi cotton sarees. One can stop by and take a look. There aren't too expensive, but obviously they hold significance.

• The Indo - Bangla border can be visited near Satrashal. There is also a Satra at Satrashal and it attracts a lot of tourists who hail from the religious beliefs of Sankardeva.

• For people who enjoy bike rides on deserted roads, there is beautiful road which is enveloped by nature. The road stretches from Rupshi to Barjan, passing through Bashbari, Kokrakhar District. The road stretches amist forests on both sides and the road is well maintained for bike rides. One can also stop for a fag at Bashbari and continue his ride. However late night rides through the road isn't advisible. I haven't faced anything wrong as of now, but its better to be safe than to dwell around danger.

• Gauripur is also a beautiful place for sweet lovers. Agarwal Sweets and Tridev Sweets are renowned for their 'Kheer Curd' and other sweets. Interstingly, sweets are cheaper at Gauripur than at anywhere else. It is perhaps because of the abundant milk availability.

• Local fish is abundant at most areas of the district and is also cheaper as compared to others because of near river location. Fish lovers must stay in the district for a few months and enjoy their taste.

For people who have been to Dhubri, they shall always be broken once they leave the place.