NEW DELHI: Hero of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war which liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan, Lt Gen (Retd) J F R Jacob, passed away in the national capital on Wednesday morning at the age of 92 due to age-related complications.
Jacob, a former Governor of Punjab and Goa, breathed his last at the Army Hospital in Delhi at around 8 am. He was admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital on January 1 after suffering from pneumonia.
Jacob had negotiated the surrender of Pakistani troops in Dhaka after the Bangladesh liberation war when, as Major General, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command under Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora. Under the Command of Aurora, the three Corps of the Indian Army entered Dhaka and forced the Pakistani Army to surrender on December 16, 1971. Over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered.
Born in 1923 to a Jewish family in the Bengal Presidency, Jacob joined the army at 19 in 1942 and also fought in World War II and the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971 before retiring in 1978.
Post-retirement, he joined the BJP and headed its ex-servicemen wing. He was appointed Governor of Goa during the Vajpayee government and then Governor of Punjab. He was also Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. During his stint as Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, he would often conduct checks in government offices unannounced.
He authored two books: Surrender at Dacca: Birth of a Nation and An Odyssey in War and Peace: An Autobiography Lt Gen J F R Jacob.
Jacob was a bachelor and lived in Som Vihar. His last rites will take place on Thursday at the Jewish cemetry at Humayun Road at 4 PM, said Ezekiel Isaac Malekar, honorary secretary of the Judah Hyam Synagogue, of which Jacob was the president.
Jacob joined the British Indian Army in 1942. He served in Northern Iraq, North Africa, Burma and Sumatra. After World War II, Jacob graduated from artillery schools in England and the US. He returned to India after Partition and joined the Indian Army. He wrote an Indian Army manual on desert warfare.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise and said India would remain grateful for his impeccable service to the nation.
“RIP Lt Gen JFR Jacob. India will always remain grateful to him for his impeccable service to the nation at the most crucial moments.
“Lt Gen JFR Jacob and I interacted often. Had a memorable interaction when he presented his autobiography to me,” he tweeted.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, BJP chief Amit Shah and Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag also condoled his demise. Suhag said Jacob was a pillar of military leadership and personified the best qualities of a soldier and a statesman who would always be remembered as one of the most prominent leaders in the annals of Indian military history. Shah said, “Sad to hear the demise of Lt Gen JFR Jacob, a true patriot and the hero of Bangladesh Liberation War. May his soul rest in eternal peace.” Parrikar said he was “deeply saddened to hear of Lt Gen JFR Jacob’s demise. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. I will always cherish the memories of working with Lt Gen JFR Jacob during his stint as Governor of Goa. May his soul rest in peace.”
Israel’s Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said, “Very sad news: General (Retd) J F R Jacob, Indian War Hero, Proud Jew, Friend of Israel, has passed away. RIP.”