1971 will remain etched as India’s finest hour, a momentous occasion which gives us great pride, togetherness, purpose and the doing right by others. India created a new nation based on legitimate aspirations, defeated an enemy which has continued being  an aggressive neighbour. It established itself as a strong independent nation with an effective role in the region. On the 50th Anniversary of the day called  VijayDiwas or Victory Day. The historic dates and wars, the skirmishes are well documented. A legacy left by the British, a nation carved in two, the Muslim Pakistan separated by 1000 Kms and two diverse cultural environments was bound to be a disaster.

The backdrop to the War of 1971 was the state of politics in Pakistan where the Bengali Muslims of East Pakistan were opposed  to the idea of being subjugated by the dominant Punjabi and Mohajir influence. Besides language, it was the sharing of resources between East Pakistan and West Pakistan which created the chasm. Sheikh MujiburRahman, was illegally denied his electoral victory in 1970 by Pakistan’s ruling military brass  influenced by Zulfiqar Bhutto, his  anti-India rhetoric under Ayub Khan. The Pakistan army launched a reign of terror on the Bengalis, exacerbating the situation with an initial displacement of a million refugees who spilled across the border into India.

In 14 days of conventional war, aided by the MuktiBahini (the nationalist guerilla force of Bengali Muslims) Pakistan was defeated resulting in the creation of Bangladesh as a free and independent nation.

We should, on this occasion look at some of the important lessons and outcomes that could have gone very wrong. Quoting Major General Jacob “Tactics may win battles, but it is strategy that wins wars.” Minute planning and a detailed SWOT Analysis helped counter a war which was fought on two fronts and considering the geopolitical equations, China could well have been a third. The position of the US Government was the policy adopted by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissenger. Pakistan had facilitated Kissinger’s secret trip to China and Nixon and Kissenger were obligated to  Yahya Khan for his role in helping the American Rapprochement towards China.  Prime Minister Indira Gandhi went on a world tour, visiting heads of state of foreign countries to garner support. Favourable international opinion was an important prerequisite for the successful pursuit of the mission to liberate Bangladesh from the Pakistani rogue forces. In Russia she signed the the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union. It specified mutual strategic cooperation. This was a masterstroke.

Russia vetoed the US contention for ceasefire in the UN. President Nixon decided to send his Navy to help Pakistan. It sent its 7th Fleet, its most powerful fleet led by the 75,000 ton nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, the world’s largest warship. India sent Moscow a request to activate a secret provision of the Indo-Soviet security treaty, under which Russia was bound to defend India in case of any external aggression. Russia dispatched a nuclear-armed flotilla from Vladivostok on December 13 under the overall command of Admiral Vladimir Kruglyakov.

The terrain was mapped and appropriate intelligence subsequently  obtained, fortified the decisions taken by the Military. Pre-empting the enemy and the elements of surprise remain crucial and smart communications and information based decisions proved to be game changers.

The broad war strategy was to concentrate on the eastern front while executing offensive holding action in the west, which forces the adversary to respond in strength, preventing it from redeploying those forces for more effective concentrated action at other places, isolating islands of resistance with intent to get to the centre of gravity, Dhaka. Effective psychological warfare, would force the capitulation of all resistance.

It is important to primarily assess our Achilles Heels to ensure that we safeguard it.

India achieved its aim of creating a new nation and permanently removing a threat in the east. It never had the resources to plan and destroy the Pakistani forces in the west. The Focus was narrow, the occupation and liberation of East Pakistan without considering other potentially valid reasons to fight this war longer.

The conflict termination was on India’s terms, but it probably left much unresolved. Luck favours the brave and General Jacob played his cards with the seasoned alacrity of a poker player and managed to convert a ceasefire to a surrender securing the freedom for the People of Bangladesh.

The 93,000 POWs were treated humanely as per the Geneva Convention. Laudable but some Machiavellian  bargaining could have helped leverage the Kashmir issue in our favour.  This is on hindsight and one never knows the realities of the situation but what could have been a dream solution for our Nation.

Pragmatism and moral courage helped win the war. An absence of consensus and dissent would have jeopardised the mission which was perfectly planned and executed with brilliance. Most loopholes plugged, with adequate back up plans and the grit to win this war albeit not our war makes it very praiseworthy and commendable.

The Professional  Army and the Government worked together and achieved the unthinkable. This can  be extended to all situations to be able to effectively assess, plan and execute programmes. The major lesson from this battle and extending it to the recent Cyclone and COVID disasters that being prepared always is the Mantra for being on top of any situation.

Vijay Diwas. Indeed let’s pray for victory for the right way. Always.!