Nation pays homage to fallen heroes on Vijay Diwas

On December 16, 1971, Lt Gen AAK Niazi, Commander of the Pakistan Eastern Command, signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Lt Gen JS Aurora, GOC-in-C of the Indian Eastern Command, in Dacca (now Dhaka).

New Delhi: President Smt Droupadi Murmu, on December 16, 2023, led the nation in paying tributes to the brave fallen heroes on the occasion of Vijay Diwas which commemorates India’s historic victory in the 1971 war. Through a post on X, the President said the nation remembers with gratitude the selfless sacrifice and unparalled courage of the Armed Forces personnel which ensured India’s victory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid heartfelt tributes to the brave soldiers, remembering their sacrifices and unwavering spirit. It will forever be etched in the people’s hearts and nation’s history, he said. Defence minister Rajnath Singh recalled the indomitable courage and valour of the Armed Forces personnel, stating that “We are proud of our Armed Forces who have fearlessly protected our country in every circumstance”.

The minister also laid a wreath and paid homage to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial in New Delhi to mark the day. Minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal AP Singh also paid homage.

On December 16, 1971, at precisely 1655 hours IST, Lt Gen AAK Niazi, Commander of the Pakistan Eastern Command, signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Lt Gen JS Aurora, GOC-in-C of the Indian Eastern Command, in Dacca (now Dhaka).

This brought to an end a war which officially lasted just 13 days. Pakistan was split in two, and Bangladesh was born. The Indian Army took approximately 93,000 prisoners of war, the largest surrender of forces since World War II. And with its victory, the balance of power in the subcontinent firmly, and forever, shifted to India.

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