After a thousand years, India won a strategic victory in 1971, dismembering Pakistan and creating a new nation, Bangladesh.
In 1971, India achieved a strategic success after a millennium by severing Pakistan into two parts and forming Bangladesh. It was a well-known triumph won by the will of the people. Politicians, executives, paramilitary groups, police, intelligence services, railroads, and most importantly, the general public all made contributions in addition
There was a strong thirst for success, a great desire for just one win to erase for all time the memory of the numerous setbacks suffered over the centuries at the hands of Central Asian and European invaders. We successfully defended the Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh during the 1947–1948 War, although it was a flawed victory. We gained independence in 1947. Pakistan continued to hold control over a sizable chunk of the Jammu & Kashmir State, including Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, and Baltistan (and still does). We suffered a humiliating loss to the Chinese in 1962. In 1965, we effectively defended Jammu & Kashmir, but we were unable to secure a tactical triumph.o the soldiers.
In 1971, the conditions were created for achieving just such a victory with the best politico-military alliance. Among those who helped us win are Indira Gandhi, Jagjivan Ram, Swaran Singh, Sam Maneckshaw, PC Lal, SM Nanda, JS Aurora, Sagat Singh, and RN Kao. At the highest levels of leadership, Indira Gandhi made hard, conclusive decisions based on the best information, most of which she learned via conversations with middle-level military commanders while on her many inspections and tours. Jagjivan Ram, the defence minister, discreetly and effectively made sure that the military had all the resources it required. As foreign minister, Swaran Singh made sure that the world would support our freedom of Bangladesh. The opposition also agreed wholeheartedly.
Some incidents stand out as being indicative of the spirit and resolve of the country. The young deputy commissioner of the border district of Firozpur was Swaran Singh Boparai. At the start of the conflict, he was at Fazilka, where the Pakistanis were putting up a valiant fight to build a bridgehead from which their Army Reserve South could invade Bathinda and advance on Ludhiana. Although it had several infantry brigades and an improvised armoured force, Foxtrot Sector, which was operating in the region, lacked the full complement of administrative services, including medical coverage. All casualties, including the formation commander, received medical attention at the Civil Hospital, which Boparai saw to it remained open despite the town’s evacuation.He performed excellently under pressure, realising that Fazilka, the focal point of Pakistan’s Schwerpunkt, was where he was most required. The youthful administrator disregarded the directives of the Governor’s Advisor and the Chief Secretary of the Punjab Government to return to Firozpur. This was merely one of the numerous contributions Boparai made to the military effort that were honoured with the Padma Shri award. When government agencies ran out of resources before the conflict, he persuaded border people to volunteer their labour to finish the defensive ditch-cum-embankment. Sukhbir Singh Bedi, his Amritsar equivalent, received a similar honour for his valiant efforts in support of the war effort.
Some formations were sent to the Western Theatre to undertake new offensives after the victory in East Pakistan. The Railways made significant efforts to move these troops as quickly as possible. Officers were taken aback to witness a large number of railroad workers, including General Managers and Class IV employees, swarming stations to assist the Army in loading their equipment into trains. After their victory in North-West Bangladesh, the 340 (Independent) Mountain Brigade Group was scheduled to transfer to Kutchh.The troops were shocked to discover that the Railways had, through their catering organisation, provided hot meals for them wherever as they travelled at fast speed across the whole of India. The troops were moving on the highest railway priority, white-hot, which forbade halting anywhere. Nobody desired that their Jawans go without food. True patriotism, not merely dedication to duty, was displayed.
Of course, the military forces were the segment of Indian society that yearned for a definitive triumph the most. After being deprived of such a triumph for a quarter century following Independence for a variety of reasons, they were especially anxious to confront and vanquish the nation’s foes. I’ve previously written about the 36 (Maratha) Light Regiment and the extraordinary efforts they made to switch to a new weapon system in a far shorter amount of time than expected. When Captain Tajinder Shergill was the President’s Bodyguard’s adjutant, he made a valiant effort to convince Army HQ to send his unit’s Humber armoured cars to the Eastern Theatre. After being rejected on that plan due to the age of the vehicles, he changed course.In light of the fact that the unit soldiers had received much of the same training as the 10 Para Commandos, a new proposition to send them to battle in the desert was offered. The military bureaucracy ended that. The moment the enemy onslaught in Chhamb began, Shergill sought to be transferred back to his parent regiment, the Deccan Horse. He was successful at this, and he went on to command a tank squadron throughout the conflict. Why are there such war efforts? He claims that rather than merely carrying out ceremonial responsibilities in Delhi, it was his duty as a fighting soldier to be at the front. It seems sense that he ended up being a respected Lieutenant General.
When his father’s artillery brigade was stationed at Shakargarh, the author saw hundreds of Punjabi civilians enter the area with gifts and food for the Jawans. It was really inspiring. Sirsa City residents became so distraught that they began to provide an ambassador car for each Pakistani Starfighter that was shot down. I’m happy to report that three Indian Air Force jet pilots are now the proud owners of brand-new automobiles following the conflict!
When the war first broke out, the wives of railway officials gave candy to those of us who had fathers fighting on the front as we travelled from Ajmer to Delhi as young students. They called us all together to do a silent prayer for the protection of our dads and the success of the nation. Even as I write this, the memory gives me chills. The nation’s citizens supported the soldiers and their families.
On December 16, I got to feel the ecstatic delight of winning firsthand. In 1971, the Indian Renaissance officially began. After that, we were able to walk with pride. It was a fantastic national effort. The spirit of 1971 triumphed over all other factors
