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Kim · Character

The Old Soldier

A retired Sikh soldier who befriends Kim and the lama on the Grand Trunk Road.

minor

Also known as the old soldier, the Jat

First appearance: Chapter III

The Old Soldier shows up with force in Chapter II: The Prophecy of the Red Bull. The page is where that presence becomes real.

A soldier of the Ludhiana Sikhs is present in the train compartment, commenting on the lama's preaching and recalling a similar prophet in his regiment.
In the storyChapter II: The Prophecy of the Red BullOpen this moment free

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In Chapter II: The Prophecy of the Red Bull: A soldier of the Ludhiana Sikhs is present in the train compartment, commenting on the lama's preaching and recalling a similar prophet in his regiment. Later, in Chapter…

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The fuller portrait of The Old Soldier sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See The Old Soldier in Chapter III

Character Web

29 connections

A slice of how The Old Soldier sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

TUThe Umballa Br…RSRessaldar SahibTRThe Rough PashtuTLTeshoo LamaKIKimTOThe Old Soldier

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Spymasters and Trainers
  • Minor Characters and Symbols
  • Protagonist

+24 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because Kim experiences an emotional and psychological peak of submission…

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In the story

The Old Soldier appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See The Old Soldier in Chapter III