By Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
India celebrates December 16 as Vijay Diwas to commemorate its victory over Pakistan during the 1971 war that led to the birth of Bangladesh. The day is also observed in Bangladesh as ‘Bijoy Dibos’.
Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora employed classic fast moving Blitzkrieg techniques, choosing weak enemy defenses and bypassing held positions. The pace of attack was blistering. While Lt. Gen. Aurora was attacking, the Indian Air Force wiped out the remaining fighter aircraft, achieving absolute air superiority. The Dhaka airfield was no longer an operational airfield. It was just a plot of land.
So ferocious was the assault by Lt. Gen. Aurora, and such was the masterful planning by General Sam Manekshaw, that in less than two weeks, Pakistan was brought to its knees.
On 16 December, Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora and Lt. Gen. AAK Niazi, Commander of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan met at the Ramna Race Course Ground in Dhaka. AAK Niazi formally signed the Instrument of Surrender at 4:31 pm. 92,000 Pakistani soldiers, policemen and paramilitary staff including civilians surrenderedto the Indian Army. Bangladesh was created.
Pakistan’s landmass and population was reduced to half. Its international reputation was reduced to zero. Pakistan’s humiliation was complete.
At 5 pm on 16 December, General Sam Manekshaw called Indira Gandhi Ji and told her that Dhaka was now free, and the Pakistani army had surrendered unconditionally. Indira Ji then went to Parliament and said, “Dhaka is now the capital of an independent country. We salute the people of Bangladesh at this moment of victory.”Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then leader of opposition, called Indira Ji’ Abhinav Chandi Durga’ to have defeated Pakistan and disintegrated it into two pieces. However, Vajpayee Ji later denied in an interview that he had referred to Indira Ji as ‘Durga’. But many MPs have been confirming that Vajpayee had said so.
“ALL QUIET ON THE EASTERN FRONT”, the melodious message continued ringing in the ears across West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) by the state controlled media even on December 16, 1971 — a date which will live in infamy.
It is a reminder of the failure of leadership at the time as exemplified by Yahya Khan and his coterie in their handling of the worst crisis the country ever faced.
After the surrender, Indira Ji had immediately announced the ceasefire. She wanted to send a message to the world that India does not want to make regional gains. India’s 1971 victory was not just military. Indira Jihad outwitted Richard Nixon by her diplomacy, she had strategically disintegrated Pakistan in just 13 days, and had also sheltered millions of refugees, showing humanitarianism.
After the surrender of 93,000 soldiers of the Pakistani Army to the Indian Army in the Bangladesh war in December 1971, the disrupted diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan were re-established through the Shimla agreement of 1972.
Before the Indian troops marched into East Pakistan Sam ensured that the Indian Army did not resort to loot and rape. He also broadcast a message to the troops that, “When you see a Begum, keep your hands in your pockets, and think of Sam”.
Sam was the first Indian officer to reach at Delhi Railway Station to meet the Pakistani POWs. He shared a cup of tea and chatted with them for some time. The POWs were seen shaking their heads, saying that they wished they had generals like this in Pakistan.
Soon thereafter, an Indian diplomat gets invited for dinner by a high-ranking Pakistani official.
After dinner, the host leads the Indian diplomat to the washroom at his request.
In the washroom, the Indian diplomat notices the photo of General Jagjit Singh Aurora (Army Commander of Indian Army’s Eastern Command and the Indian hero of the 1971 Indo-Pak war) hung *inside* the toilet. But he says nothing after he comes out.
Curious, the Pakistani host asks_ “Did you see any photo in the toilet?”
The Indian diplomat admits_ “Yes, I saw the photo of General Jagjit Singh Aurora inside.”
The host’s mischief continues_ “Do you have any problem with its placement? If so, we can settle it diplomatically!”
The Indian diplomat answers_ “None whatsoever. The placement is perfect. *Nothing makes Pakistanis shit quicker than the sight of General Jagjit Singh Arora!”
Let’s close with this poignant episode on the generosity and humility displayed by Sam and India in the hour of our greatest glory as a nation. Sharing an anecdote, Sam Jamshedji Manekshaw recalled about an incident in Lahore at Governor’s House when the Governor of the Punjab province had asked him for a favour.
The former Chief of Indian Army added that the Governor wanted him to meet the staff and shake hands with them, who were all waiting out for the Indian war hero.
“They were all lined up. The 11th man took the turban off and put it at my feet. So I picked it up and gave it to him, asking why did you (Pakistani staffer) do this?” said Field Marshal Manekshaw in his interview.
The Retired General said that a Pakistani staffer revealed how the Indian general had saved his family. The Pakistani staffer at the Governor’s residence said that five of his sons were PoWs of the 1971 war, who were treated with a lot of respect despite being Pakistani soldiers.
According to the staffer, as narrated by Sam Manekshaw, the Pakistan PoWs were given Quran to read, made to sleep on cots in barracks, broke bread with fellow Indian soldiers. “We will never believe Hindus are bad,” the Pakistan staffer at the Governor’s house said to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in reaction to the professionalism displayed by the Indian Forces in the 1971 India-Pakistan despite fighting a rogue army like Pakistan.
In the interview, the former COAS also said how he had to face severe problems back in the country following his visit to Pakistan. He added that the bureaucrats, ministers complained against him stating that he treated Pakistani soldiers just like he treated his sons-in-law. Even, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had called for a cabinet meeting to the issue.
Field Marshal Manekshaw said that he explained to Mrs Gandhi, stating that they were soldiers, who ‘fought and fought extremely well and lost’.
What a man! What a soldier! God almighty appears to have lost or hidden the mounds to make the likes of he!
* First: – The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time.
* Second: – The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next.
* Third: – Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.
With moist eyes, prayerful remembrance and salute to our resilient and resolute armed forces, I close.
Bharat Mata ki Jai. Jai Hind.
–Author of Sam Manekshaw’ Beloved Armed Forces,Kalaimagal Publications,2021- practicing advocate in the Madras High Court)