1971-Birth of a Nation

The linguistic and cultural divide between Bengali-speaking East Pakistani and Punjabi-speaking west Pakistan became an abyss when the decisive victory of East Pakistan's Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was set aside by Pakistan's military dictator Gen Yahya Khan. Instead, Khan engineered the worst genocide in East Pakistan. Mujib was arrested.

As the genocide unfolded against East Pakistan, India saw an influx of 9 million refugees escaping from East Pakistan to India. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sought international aid and attention against the worst human rights violation. With no response, Gandhi and her generals weighed options for war. Mrs. Gandhi kept her gritty attempts for international attention alive.

With no western support, India was running out of options to end the crisis peacefully. As war clouds were looming on the horizon, India's generals were making their plans for action. Equipment and infrastructure were put in place and the engineers worked even during the monsoons for the impending war.

India's intelligence agencies and R&AW had been working long before the war finally started. The inputs provided by these agencies ensured that India could be well prepared to safeguard its territory and push its operational plans. IAF and Navy played their supportive roles to the hilt while the Indian army surprised the enemy with the blitzkrieg offensive across East Pakistan.

The success of the Indian armed forces was not only because of preparedness but also because of the masterly diplomacy of Mrs Indira Gandhi in the months leading up to the war. She succeeded and gradually changed public perception and diplomatic opinion while effectively cutting off all supplies to East Pakistan.

On December 8th the Indian army chief Gen Manekshaw, gave a call to the Pakistan Army in the east, from All India Radio, to surrender or face certain death as all escape routes, land and sea were closed to them. Dhaka was now in sight.

December 16 was the historic day when Gen Jacob had flown into Dhaka, on the orders of Gen Manekshaw, to discuss the terms of surrender. Gen Niazi had no choice but to accept the defeat and sign the instrument of surrender.