“Dacca is now the free capital of a free country,” said then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while announcing that the Pakistani forces have surrendered in front of the joint efforts by Indian Security Forces and Mukti Bahini members.
On this day, 49 years ago, the instrument of surrender was signed at Dacca at 4:31 P.M. by Lieut. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi on behalf of Pakistan Eastern Command. Lieut. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora commander in chief of Indian and Bangladesh forces in the eastern theater, accepted the surrender by Pakistani forces. It was the day neighbouring Bangladesh was liberated from Pakistan.
“I have an announcement to make which I think the House has been awaiting for some time. The West Pakistani forces have unconditionally surrendered.
“Dacca is now the free capital of a free country,” said then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while announcing that the Pakistani forces have surrendered in front of the joint efforts of Indian Security Forces and Mukti Bahini members.
However, what strikes the most about the statement was the poised and systematic manner in which Indira Gandhi transferred the powers to the Bangladesh government after the war, without trying to influence the region, and also released 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war (POW) in eight months.
“Our armed forces are under strict orders to treat Pakistani prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention and to deal with all sections of the population of Bangladesh in a humane manner,” Indira Gandhi’s statement, announcing Pakistan’s surrender, said.
“Our objectives were limited—to assist the gallant people of Bangladesh and their Mukti Bahini to liberate their country from a reign of terror and to resist aggression on our own land. The Indian armed forces will not remain in Bangladesh any longer than is necessary,” she further states.
It may occur as a diplomatic blunder to modern-day ‘superpowers’, considering how many countries these first world countries have invaded and never left. But Indira Gandhi’s attitude was that of a sincere winner, who knew she had achieved something extraordinary but preferred to tone it down by not belittling people around her. It was also in contrast to those who suggested that the 93,000 Pakistani POW could have been used to resolve outstanding Kashmir issue with Pakistan.
“The millions who were driven out of their homes across our borders have already begun trekking back. The rehabilitation of this war‐torn land calls for dedicated teamwork by its government and people,” Indira Gandhi said. It should be noted that India also had to bear the financial burden of looking after the 10 million refugees who had crossed over to India from East Pakistan as they fled the Pakistani army’s horrendous atrocities, better known as the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971.
Many think the decision to release 93,000 Pakistani POW was in exchange for the release of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, who was in Pakistan’s prison at that time.
“We hope and trust that the father of this new nation. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will take his rightful place among his own people and lead Bangladesh to peace, progress and prosperity. The time has come when they can together look forward to a meaningful future in their Sonar Bangla [Golden Bengal]. They have our good wishes,” Indira said.
Few years after Indira Gandhi managed to bring him back from Pakistan and he became the premier of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in a political coup in 1975. All members of his family were killed overnight except his two daughters.
“They (the assassins) attacked three houses and killed 18 people. We had nobody there. We were at that time homeless, countryless, we became refugees. But at that time Mrs Indira Gandhi immediately sent a message to us asking us come to India,” Sheikh Hasina, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh and daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, said in an event.
“I don’t know without that shelter what would have been our condition. We express our gratitude to everyone in India,” she added.
In 2018, in presence of PM Narendra Modi, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina particularly showered praises on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. After inaugurating Bangladesh Bhavan on the campus of Visva-Bharati in Shantiniketan, she recalled India’s role during the Bangladesh Liberation War in her speech, and said: “During the 1971 war, also known as the “muktijudhho”, Indira Gandhi stood beside us. Her government had given refuge to one crore Bangladeshis.”
Hasina went on to add, “When my father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, Indira Gandhi stood beside our family.”
But it was not only the compassionate attitude that made Indira Gandhi stand out, so much so that any conversation about Bangladesh’s independence is incomplete without the mention of Indira Gandhi, but it was also her grit and fearless intervention when she could have chosen to stay away from the subcontinental matters.
She gave adequate autonomy to her Defence heads in the run-up and course of the 1971 war and ensured the war doesn’t linger.
India was more than ready after a pre-emptive strike on some of the Indian airbases was made. Indira Gandhi was in Calcutta at that time and soon rushed to Delhi to address the nation. She said, “War has been forced on us.”
The Indian security forces responded with offensives and the war ended with the separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan resulting into the creation of Bangladesh.
The 1971 war brought the greatest moments of glory for then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. BJP veteran and former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in particular, described her as the all-powerful “Goddess Durga”.
However, it was the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975 that tainted her legacy. It is the one issue over which the BJP and PM Modi has always criticised the Congress and continue to do so even after over four decades.
Interestingly, Indira’s opponents sometimes fail to admit that Indira’s decision-making and fearless demeanour during the 1971 war only helped India’s stature to rise in the subcontinent. India was perceived as a mighty nation which intervened for the liberty of the people of the East Pakistan region and helped them achieve independence. India, while achieving the victory in a record time of 13 days, also sent a clear message to neighbouring Pakistan that it will not sit back and bear its offensives.
For the political leaders who invoke Pakistan on every second instance when subjected to serious questions, Indira Gandhi’s feat is unimaginable and unachievable.
At a time when Chinese forces have reportedly grabbed 1000 square kilometres of Indian land, and Indian premier cannot even name China in his addresses, or at a time when Pakistan is invoking Kashmir issue on every global forum since India has scrapped its special status, India appears weaker than it was back in 1972 when India won Bangladesh war.
Union home minister Amit Shah last year in Parliament vowed to give his life for the integrity of Jammu and Kashmir and a reminder that it included Aksai Chin. It was shortly after that the Chinese forces began their offensives on LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
Indira Gandhi, who tore Pakistan into two pieces, didn’t invoke the PoK while returning Pakistani POW. She was aware how peace was important for the region and particularly India, which had just come out of a war. A leader is not made by mere theatrics and dialogues in the house, his character and vision need to reflect through his actions.
On the day of Vijay Diwas, as we remember and pay tributes to the heroes of the 1971 war, we should also identify and highlight the important role played by Indira Gandhi in achieving the feat.
We should also remind ourselves that India, whenever challenged by the external forces, has risen to the occasion and showed its might. All it takes is the leadership having the gall to take the call.
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