Regt. No.- RJ20JWR741092 Rank - CADET
Name of Cdt – SOMYA SINGHVI
Name of Institution- PATNI PUBLIC SCHOOL
Unit- 2 RAJ R&V REGT NCC NAVANIA NCC Gp HQ UDAIPUR NCC Dte RAJASTHAN JAIPUR
WE FIGHT TO WIN AND WIN WITH A KNOCKOUT, BECAUSE THERE ARE
NO RUNNER-UPS IN WAR
~ GENERAL JJ SINGH
India is the land of brave warriors who proved this to the whole world several times. One such incident happened in 1971 when Indian Army won the war against Pakistan. To celebrate this victory, Vijay Diwas is celebrated all across India on 16 December.
The Government of India decided on December 03, 1971, that India would go for war with Pakistan to save Bengali Muslims and Hindus. This war was fought between India and Pakistan for 13 days only. But, the Pakistani army surrendered before the allied forces consisting of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) with 93,000 soldiers. It was the Indian Army‟s one of the biggest victories ever made against Pakistan. As it was the first major victory of independent India, it brought confidence in people along with lots of joy. Many people do not know the reason behind this war. They think why there was a war? The reason was:
Before 1971, Bangladesh was known as “East Pakistan” as it was the part of Pakistan. It was believed that people of East Pakistan or Bangladesh(now) were often beaten, exploited, raped and murdered by the Pakistani Army. During the tough time faced by Bangladesh, India supported Bangladesh against Pakistan‟s oppression in „East Pakistan‟.
The war started when Pakistan launched air strikes on 11 Indian airbases. It was perhaps the first time in which India's all three forces fought in unison. India quickly responded to Pakistani Army's movements in the west and captured around 15,010 km of Pakistan territory.
The war ended after the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the joint forces of Indian Army and Bangladesh's Mukti Bahini.
General A A K Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender on 16 December 1971 in Dhaka, marking the formation of East Pakistan as the new nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan also lost half of its territory with the birth of Bangladesh. The war lasted for just 13 days, and is one of the shortest wars in history.
Every year on December 16, the Defense Minister of India and heads of all three wings of the Indian armed forces pay homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in New Delhi as well as in the National Military Memorial, Bangalore.
In November 1971, Field Marshal Manekshaw said to the warriors „I am sending you across, ensure victory. Prisoners of war will not be ill-treated‟. Indian Army lived up to the direction of Field Marshal Manekshaw and forced the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops.
Three Army Personnel and one IAF officer were awarded the Param Veer Chakra- the highest gallantry award for their supreme sacrifice. They are:
2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal Unit: 17 Poona Horse Date: 16 December 1971 Name of the battle: Battle of Basantar Place of action: Barapind-Jarpal, Shakargarh, Pakistan
Major Hoshiar Singh Unit: 3 Grenadiers Date: 17 December 1971 Name of Battle: Battle of Basantar Place of action: Basantar River, Shakargarh, Pakistan
Lance Naik Albert Ekka Unit: 14 Guards Date: 13 December 1971 Name of Battle: Battle of Hilli Place of action: Gangasagar, Agartala, India
Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon Date: 14 December 1971 Place of action: Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
To find us, you must be good
To catch us, you must be fast, but
To beat us, you must be kidding
~ INDIAN ARMY