Vijay Diwas: Observed on December 16 every year, Vijay Diwas marks the victory of India over Pakistan in 1971 that resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
The Indo-Pak war of 1971 fundamentally shaped the geopolitical landscape of South Asia forever, reaffirming the role of India as a superpower and stabilizing force in the region.
Vijay Diwas-The Surrender of Pakistan
Pakistan forces surrendered on December 16, 1971 after they had committed mass atrocities in East Pakistan. Over 90,000 thousand Pakistan troops surrendered before the Indian troops.
General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the then chief of Pakistani forces, surrendered to the allied forces led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
Vijay Diwas: What led to the Indo-Pak War?
The Indo-Pak war started on December 3, 1971, and lasted for 13 days.
The war was a result of Bangladesh Liberation War after the ill-treatment by West Pakistan of East Pakistan people, undermining the election results in East Pakistan. This was after The Awami League under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won. However, Pakistan’s military General Yahya Khan canceled the National Assembly and arrested Rahman in March 1971 after launching Operation Searchlight. After this, Pakistan imposed military rule in East Pakistan.
According to official estimated, Yahya Khan ordered mass killing and rapes of Bangladeshi people and women. More than 3 million people were killed and 400,000 women and girls were raped by members of the Pakistan Army.
This caused thousands of suicides, pregnancies, births of war babies, infanticide, abortions and ostracism of the victims. This was the same time when Bengali nationalists also went on to commit mass rape of ethnic Bihari Muslim women as they were supportive of Pakistan.
India assisted the Mukti Bahini of East Pakistan to help them get freedom. Indian army, navy and air forces attacked the Pakistani forces. Indian action relied of speed, accuracy, logistics and leadership on all war fronts and smartly exploited the enemy’s weaknesses in positions that resulted in the swift victory.
Have We Learned The Lessons?
Today, Bangladesh and Pakistan seem to be together against India. Gen Z and Gen Alpha of today are not much aware of the historic events, and doesn’t share the same level of patriotism that was once the pride of India.
