KOTTAYAM: On December 2, 1971, the Indian armed forces were instructed to prepare for war. Young officers, mostly in their 20s, energetically marched into battle the very next day.
As the nation prepares to celebrate 53rd ‘Vijay Divas’ on December 16, commemorating India’s triumph in the war of 1971 against Pakistan, that led to the formation of Bangladesh, some of those brave soldiers gathered on the banks of Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom on Monday, to relive memories of the military campaign.
The group consists of 78 members, including war veterans, their wives and four ‘Veer Naris’, who are widows of fallen soldiers.
Despite being scattered across the country, these courageous individuals, who first crossed paths at the National Defence Academy in the late 1960s, share a deep bond that transcends time and distance.
They often come together in different locations to reminisce their shared experience. Commissioned as officers in the Army, Navy and Airforce in 1971, many of them served for more than 30 years in the Indian Armed Forces.
“We have always been a family. The bond we share is indescribable. I served in the Army for 35 years and retired in 2006. Given a chance, I would gladly return to the Army,” said Brigadier Ravi Velu who, along with wife Prameela, remains active members of the group. Interestingly, these officers are referred to as ‘born to battle’, as they bravely marched into war just months after being commissioned as officers.
‘Capture of 93,000 Pakistan soldiers remains to be one of largest surrenders in history’
J S Patial, a native of Himachal Pradesh, recalled his experiences during the war, where his team eliminated around 300 Pakistani soldiers, albeit at the cost of a commanding officer and a major.
“I was stationed in Ferozepur in Punjab, when the war broke out. The area was situated near the Indo-Pak border close to Lahore. When the Pakistani troops attacked, we responded with a fierce counterattack, killing around 300 enemy soldiers,” he recounted with pride.
The group members also proudly recalled their batchmate Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who lost his life on the final day of war and was posthumously awarded with Param Vir Chakra, nation’s highest military honour for gallantry and sacrifice. Col Neelakandan Jayachandran Nair, who passed away in 1990s and was honoured with two gallantries - Ashok Chakra and Keethi Chakra, was also remembered on the occasion.
Those who participated in the trip included Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, major generals Ravi Sanon, A A Chandra, Ashok Taskar group captain T P Srivastava, Commander Arvind Kumar and others.
The intense conflict between West and East Pakistan began in March 1971 with a brutal crackdown by Pakistani military forces in East Pakistan (Bangladesh). India intervened to support Bangladesh’s fight for independence when Bangladeshi migrants fled to India due to the war. As the situation escalated, India officially entered the war on December 3, 1971. The Indian Armed Forces executed various successful operations with remarkable bravery and strategic prowess, achieving victory in just 13 days.
The birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation on December 16, 1971, following the public surrender of the Pakistan Military, remains a significant milestone in history. “The significance of this war lies in the fact that it led to the formation of Bangladesh as an independent nation. Moreover, the capture of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers remains to be one of the largest surrenders in world history,” said Col Prakash Nambiar.