When you are in a war or a potentially conflict zone, your best friend had better be God. That is why one sees a lot of temples at such places where you can die or lose limbs even if no bullets are being fired. Natural or accidental mishaps can strike anyone.
The faith in the shrine of OP Baba is almost fanatical for soldiers posted at the base camp at the Siachen Glacier. Built near the snout of the glacier in 1996, elaborate ceremonies are performed as soon as a soldier finishes his posting of 90 days on the glacier, something allotted by rotation. Living under sub-zero conditions on a mass of ice can be fatal or cause loss of limbs or eye-sight or even sanity amongst the most hardy. Even when all precautions are taken and right training imparted. Coming back from the glacier intact is a cause for celebration.
Who is OP Baba? According to the legend mentioned at the shrine:
“The true origin of the legend of OP Baba shrine remains obscured in the mist and frozen mass of the Siachen Glacier. The shrine itself originated in the Malaun post Bila complex in the northern glacier in the late 1980s. As the legend goes, a soldier named Om Prakash was instrumental in single-handedly beating back an enemy attack on Malaun post while the soldiers of the post had been temporarily called to the rear headquarters. Who the soldier Om Prakash was and what became of him is the mystery of the legend.
It is the firm belief of the troops that the soldier Saint Om Prakash, fondly revered as OP Baba, is their Guardian Deity who protects them not only form the depredations of nature on the glacier but also from the enemy by forewarning them of impending dangers by appearing in their dreams. A formal military report is given to OP Baba by the troops prior to and on accomplishment of every mission on the glaciers. So strong is the faith on OP Baba that all troops pledge to give up consumption of alcohol and tobacco during their stay on the glacier. As the legend spread, shrines in honour of OP Baba have come up at all posts on the glaciers.”
The shrine was renovated in 2003 and renamed OP Baba – Sarva Dharma Sthal (All religions place) to reflect the secular tradition of the Army.
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i think the story is about op baba is a dose of comfidence given to soldiers for the tough task. whether true or false, the op baba factor makes the jawans to behave and remain disciplined thorughout their posting at the highest battlefield in the world.
Hi Sajjad, I guess in those conditions, hope and faith are your best friends. It is not easy doing what these jawans do.