Harbhajan Singh was born in a very small village namely Dholowal of District Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India on 10 September 1956. He is a former sport person who has started taking part in sports since 1970 and won medals in athletics at state level under 18 years category.He remained best athlete of the college when he was doing his graduation from Khalsa college Garhdiwala. When he was doing his post Graduation from Government college Hoshiarpur he start learning judo and being a new game in Punjab he won medals in various state level competitions.He represented Punjab in Judo and won Gold medal in National judo championship held at Indore in 1979.In addition to participating in sports he use to take active part in various other activities of the college. He remained NCC cadet and is “C” certificate holder, he was NSS volunteer and took part in various camps for social service activities, he remained editor of college magazine for punjabi section and an active member of student central association of the college. His career began in 1980 when he joined Indo-Tibetan Border Police as a gazetted officer through a national level competitive exam and is currently the incumbent Inspector General of ITBP. Singh is credited with three Mt. Everest expeditions and his performance remained remarkable for the significant successful attempts. Since then, he has to his credit successful expeditions to Mt.Nanda Devi, the third highest peak in India, and many others such as Mount Abhigamin, Mt. Kamet& Mt.Abhigamin, Mount Mana, Mt.Stopanth,Mount Nunkun, Mt.White Needle,Mount Pinnacle, Mount Pyramid, Mt. North Pyramid, Mt. Sphinx, Mt. Panchachuli, Mount Stok Kangri Mount Kasket and four un-named peaks He also has led a team of skiers who skied down after climbing Mt. Abhigamin in 2007 and later on ski down from the 3rd camp of Mount Everest in 2009.
Awards and recognitions
Harbhajan Singh is a recipient of various following Awards and recognitions conferred by the Government of India and Government of Punjab for his spectacular and significant achievements in the field of Mountaineering and adventure sports and outstanding and meaningful performance as an officer of elite ITBPOLICE Force :- a) Padmashri Award in 2011. b) Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2016. c) Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award in 2019. d) IMF Nain singh & Kishan singh life time achievement award in 2011. e) President’s Police Medal for Distinguished services in 2011. f) President’s Police medal for Meritorious services in 2005. g) DG ITBPOLICE Insignia & Commendation roll -13 times. Indian Mountaineering Foundation has also extended life membership to him for his significant contributions in the field of mountaineering and promoting adventure activities at International and National level His name also figure in “Limca book of records and quiz competition books prepared for competitive exam” for his matchless and spectacular contribution in the field of mountaineering and promoting adventure activities activities at International and National level.
