Signals from the Mountains: A General, a Shrine, and the Whispers of Fate
By Col Guljit Singh Chadha, Veteran Former OC, 214 Field Workshop, North Sikkim, Former Registrar Panjab University Nestled in the rugged terrain of Sikkim lies not just a strategic military zone but also a region steeped in mystery, faith, and folklore. During my tenure in the Eastern Himalayas as Officer Commanding of 214 Field Workshop and Divisional Troops Workshop at Gangtok from 1997 to 1999, I heard a poignant anecdote that predated my posting—one that continues to echo through the mountains and among the troops stationed there. The General’s Final Visit In 1993, Lt Gen Jameel Mahmood, then the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Eastern Command, embarked on an official visit to the Sikkim sector. Tradition held that all visiting senior officers paid obeisance at the revered Baba Harbhajan Singh Shrine near Nathula Pass—a soldier saint believed to still serve the Indian Army after death. But time was pressing. The General reportedly declined the customary...