Whenever I think about it my whole body commences enjoying and I start rejoicing. Whenever I read about that my mind rejuvenates and I get proud of my great-great motherland and its brave and valiant soldiers who are ready to fight and combat for the country till their last breath.
You would be thinking, what I am talking about, so lets unravel the suspense. I am talking about the 1971 Indo-Pak war, in which India crashed Pakistan to the ground and proved the whole world that India is great.
But let's first learn about the 1971 war.
1971 Indo-Pak war was fought between India and West Pakistan (Now Pakistan). After Independence the Pakistan got the control of the West Pakistan and East Pakistan (Present day Bangladesh). Under the leadership of former Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi, the Indians fought one of the shortest wars of history [lasting only 13 days(3-16 december)] and the one which still makes the whole world understand the power of my great motherland. The war started when Pakistan's forces struck on 11 Indian Airbase. Smt. Indira Gandhi was a great leader, and not tolerating any harm to her country, she also ordered a war on Pakistan. The war was a great shame for Pakistan and a divisive victory for India.
The West Pakistan's army was very cruel and harsh to the East Pakistan. The west-Pakistan army conducted a very enormous genocide in the Present day Bangladesh. These attacks were mainly aimed at the Hindu minority residing there. India's east borders were opened for the refugees, and some states in India also made many refugee shelter camps along the border. The resulting deluge of impoverished East Pakistani refugees placed an intolerable strain on India's already overburdened and slow Indian economy.
The indian government also requested and appealed to the international community but receiving no stiff action against the West Pakistan, Smt. India Gandhi also resorted to war, as there was no way left.
People in Pakistan started giving the slogans of CRUSH INDIA and demanded that India should be annihilated, but those people didn't know WHAT INDIA IS.
On the evening of 3 December Sunday, at about 5:40 p.m. the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) launched a pre-emptive strike on eleven airfields in north-western India, including Agra. On the same day, Smt. Indira Gandhi also averred on radios that India is going to have a war against Pakistan. Indian Air Force of that very day launched air strikes on the Pakistan. And this marked the official start of the Indo-Pak war.
In the Navy, the Indians crushed the West Pakistan's ports and under the command of Vice Admiral S.N. Kohli, the Indian missile boats destroyed the Pakistani destroyer PNS Khyber and a minesweeper PNS Muhafiz; and damaged PNS Shah Jahan. In the east the Indian army, under the leadership of Vice Admiral Krishnan isolated the East Pakistan from the west by completely blocking the Bay of Bengal (by a NAVAL BLOCKADE), blocking the influence of Pakistan on East Pakistan. But on 9 December, the Indian Navy suffered its biggest wartime loss when the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor sank the frigate INS Khukri in the Arabian Sea resulting in a loss of 18 officers and 176 sailors.
Then Pakistan attacked from air on the East Pakistan, but India was efficient to restrain the attacks. In the East we destroyed Pakistan Air Force no.14 sqn. After that the Indian Air force conducted strikes on West Pakistan and also destroyed many airfields of Pakistan. West Pakistan's ineffective attacks and dearth of planning also helped us in sabotaging their unethical missions.
Pakistan also attacked on indian border with paramilitary forces but the brave indian soldiers didn't lose their calm and destroyed a large part of Pakistan's army and covered area of around 5,500 square miles 14,000 km2.
(IN Photo) Pakistani Army Commander in the Eastern Command, Lt. General A. A. K. Niazi, signing the Instrument of Surrender in front of General of Officer Commanding in Chief of India and Bangladesh Forces in the Eastern Theatre, Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora. 16 December 1971
Around 90,000 Pakistan's soldiers surrendered and this was a thing of great proud for Indian Military. Imagine 90,000 people having all the ammunitions surrendering in front of Indian army. Pakistani army commander A.A.K. Niazi signed the instrument of surrender and blatantly accepted Pakistan's victory.
This is the great Indian strength.
| Branch | Number of captured Pakistani POWs |
|---|---|
| Army | 54,154 |
| Navy | 1,381 |
| Air Force | 833 |
| Paramilitary including police | 22,000 |
| Civilian personnel | 12,000 |
| Total: | 90,368 |
Important dates in the war:
- 7 March 1971: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declares that, "The current struggle is a struggle for independence", in a public meeting attended by almost a million people in Dhaka.
- 25 March 1971: Pakistani forces start Operation Searchlight, a systematic plan to eliminate any resistance. Thousands of people are killed in student dormitories and police barracks in Dhaka.
- 26 March 1971: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman signed an official declaration of independence and sent it through a radio message on the night of 25 March (the morning of 26 March). Later Major Ziaur Rahman and other Awami League leaders announced the declaration of independence on behalf of Sheikh Mujib from Kalurghat Radio Station, Chittagong. The message is relayed to the world by Indian radio stations.
- 27 March 1971: Bangladesh Force namely Mukti Bahini {consisting Niyomito Bahini (Regular Force) and Gono Bahini (Guerilla Force)} was formed under the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) General Mohammad Ataul Ghani Osmany.
- 17 April 1971: Exiled leaders of Awami League form a provisional government.
- 3 December 1971: War between India and Pakistan officially begins when West Pakistan launches a series of preemptive air strikes on Indian airfields.
- 6 December 1971: East Pakistan is recognised as Bangladesh by India.
- 14 December 1971: Systematic elimination of Bengali intellectuals is started by Pakistani Army and local collaborators.
- 16 December 1971: Lieutenant-General A. A. K. Niazi, supreme commander of Pakistani Army in East Pakistan, surrenders to the Allied Forces (Mitro Bahini) represented by Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora of Indian Army at the surrender. India and Bangladesh gain victory.
- 12 January 1972: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman comes to power.
Military awards
Battle honours
After the war, a total
of number of 41 battle
honours and 4 theatre honours were awarded to units of the
Indian Army, the notable amongst which are:
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Gallantry awards
For bravery, a number
of soldiers and officers on both sides were awarded the highest gallantry award
of their respective countries. Following is a list of the recipients of the
Indian award Param Vir
Chakra, Bangladeshi award Bir Sreshtho and the Pakistani award Nishan-E-Haider:
- India
Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra:
- Lance Naik Albert Ekka (Posthumously)
- Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (Posthumously)
- Major Hoshiar Singh
- Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (Posthumously)
- Bangladesh
Recipients of the Bir Sreshtho:
- Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir (Posthumously)
- Lance Naik Munshi Abdur Rouf (Posthumously)
- Sepoy Hamidur Rahman (Posthumously)
- Sepoy Mostafa Kamal (Posthumously)
- ERA Mohammad Ruhul Amin (Posthumously)
- Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman (Posthumously)
- Lance Naik Nur Mohammad Sheikh (Posthumously)
- Pakistan:
Recipients of the Nishan-E-Haider
- Major Muhammad Akram (Posthumously)
- Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (Posthumously)
- Major Shabbir Sharif (Posthumously)
- Sarwar Muhammad Hussain (Posthumously)
- Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz (Posthumously)
This war proved the whole world that India is a very tranquil country but if you try to harm its integrity and credibility, it will revert back to you in an extemely and immensely fierce way.
This is a message to the whole world to be aware. No matter who comes in our way, we will fight courageously and valiantly. At that time Smt. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India and one of the boldest ladies of the world. Her great intellect and intuition helped India got a crushing victory. At that time Atal Vihari Bajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, was the opposition leader and called Mrs. Indira Gandhi "Maa Durga" because of her great work. Her great intelligence also helped India get a clear victory in the war. Thanks to Smt. Indira Gandhi, India's "Maa Durga".
Hum hai hindustani (We are indians).
Jai Ma bharti,
Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.
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