1971:What Some Want the World to Forget

<Editors>

On December 16^th, 2024, the anniversary of the date that Bangladesh was liberated from Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took to Facebook to call it an historic victory for India. It sparked a virulent backlash from Bangladesh officials condemning the post and calling it “unfriendly,” among other adverbs.  Asif Nazrul, the Bangladesh interim government’s law adviser, reportedly wrote, “16 December 1971, was the day of Bangladesh’s victory. India was an ally in this victory, nothing more.”

To be clear, Modi had written, “Today, on Vijay Diwas, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India’s historic victory in 1971. Their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve safeguarded our nation and brought glory to us. This day is a tribute to their extraordinary valour and their unshakable spirit. Their sacrifices will forever inspire generations and remain deeply embedded in our nation’s history.”

The reaction came as no surprise to me. Ever since I was a child, growing up in the same building as the family of the Consul General of Bangladesh, and going to school with his daughters, I found the issue of Bangladesh independence and India’s role in it to be a sensitive one.

Bangladeshis would like to feel that the war was a victory for the rebel Mukti Bahini force, which declared independence on March 16^th, 1971 and took refuge in India for support, training, and obtaining weapons. India, in the minds of many Bangladeshis merely aided in the struggle.

However, after nine months of fighting, the Mukti Bahini were no closer to victory than at the start. It took the Indian armed forces intervention, which came after India was attacked by Pakistan to make the difference, and a decisive victory was attained in a mere two weeks of fighting. General Niazi, who had commanded Pakistani forces in then East Pakistan (post liberation, Bangladesh) surrendered to Lt. General Jagjit Aurora of the Indian Army. The campaign was orchestrated by legendary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who was the commander of India’s Eastern and Western Commands.

Bangladeshis would like to forget this, and portray the victory as theirs – albeit with a little help from their friends as the Beatles song says.

For the benefit of those without a sense of such history and others throughout the world, we, at The Global Calcuttan have tried to put together a backgrounder on what actually happened. We are under no illusions that all will not be pleased with our narration of events but we feel it to be true to the historical facts.

India’s Pivotal Role in the 1971 Liberation War: The Creation of Bangladesh

The 1971 Liberation War, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, remains one of the most significant and defining moments in South Asian history. At the heart of this tumultuous period was India’s critical involvement, which not only shaped the outcome of the war but also marked a new chapter in the geopolitical landscape of the subcontinent. The war, which resulted in the break-up of Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh, was a complex struggle for independence that saw the brutal repression of Bengali nationalists by Pakistan’s military, followed by a decisive intervention by India. India’s role in this historic conflict was not only a military one but also a moral and diplomatic stance, one that altered the course of history in the region.

The Prelude to War: The Crisis in East Pakistan

The seeds of the 1971 Liberation War were sown in the aftermath of Pakistan’s creation in 1947. The country was divided into two wings—East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (modern-day Pakistan)—separated by more than 1,000 miles of Indian territory. Despite East Pakistan being home to the majority of the population, the region remained politically and economically marginalized by West Pakistan, with power concentrated in the western wing.

The turning point in relations between Pakistan’s two wings came in 1970, when the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory in Pakistan’s first general elections. The party’s platform called for greater autonomy for East Pakistan, a demand that was summarily rejected by the ruling authorities in West Pakistan, particularly by General Yahya Khan’s military government. The refusal to grant political autonomy to the elected representatives of East Pakistan led to widespread unrest and demands for independence.

In March 1971, after months of political deadlock and rising tensions, the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight, a brutal crackdown on Bengali nationalists. The operation aimed to suppress the independence movement by using force, leading to widespread atrocities, including mass killings, rapes, and the displacement of millions. The crackdown led to the declaration of independence by the leaders of East Pakistan on March 26, 1971, an event that marked the beginning of the Bangladesh Liberation War.

The number of East Pakistanis, many of them Hindus, The establishment of Pakistan as a Muslim-majority state, coupled with rising Islamic fundamentalism, had already marginalized Hindus, who were often seen as “outsiders” or second-class citizens, despite being the original inhabitants of the land. This exclusion was exacerbated after the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, where Hindus were once again subjected to horrifying atrocities and violence, and many were killed, displaced, women were gang-raped as the Pakistan Army weaponized rape, or forced into refugee camps.

According to the Asia Times, at a meeting of the military top brass, then dictator of Pakistan, Yahya Khan declared: “Kill three million of them (East Pakistanis) and the rest will eat out of our hands!” As many as three million of “them”, indeed, were massacred.

Pakistan’s religious leaders openly supported the crime by labelling Bengali freedom fighters “Hindus” and Bengali women “the booty of war”.

India’s Initial Response: Humanitarian Support and Refugee Crisis

India’s response to the crisis was initially one of humanitarian concern. The large-scale atrocities committed by the Pakistani military shocked the Indian government, which, led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, began to provide clandestine support to the Bengali freedom fighters, the Mukti Bahini. These guerrilla forces were engaged in a protracted struggle against Pakistan’s military, and India’s support in the form of arms, training, and sanctuary was crucial to their efforts.

However, the situation quickly escalated as the brutal crackdown in East Pakistan displaced millions of refugees, many of whom fled across the border into India, particularly into the neighboring states of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. By the middle of 1971, an estimated 10 million refugees had entered India, putting a severe strain on the country’s resources and infrastructure. It was among the largest displacements of human beings in history, rivalling the partition of the subcontinent that took place in 1947.

The influx of refugees, coupled with the widespread reports of atrocities in East Pakistan, made it increasingly clear that the situation was untenable. India could not remain passive while the humanitarian crisis deepened on both sides of its border and the people of East Pakistan continued to suffer under Pakistani military rule.

The Diplomatic Maneuvering: Preparing for Intervention

Recognizing the inevitability of a military conflict with Pakistan, India sought international diplomatic support for its position. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi traveled extensively to engage world leaders, including those in the United States and the Soviet Union, to build a case for intervention. India presented its stance as one of supporting the self-determination of the Bengali people and standing up against human rights abuses committed by Pakistan’s military.

The Indian government’s diplomatic efforts bore fruit in the form of the Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation, signed in August 1971. The treaty not only provided India with crucial military support but also sent a strong message to Pakistan that it would not face the conflict alone. India’s growing partnership with the Soviet Union was instrumental in balancing Pakistan’s alliance with the United States, which at the time provided military and political support to Pakistan.

The War: India’s Military Intervention

On December 3, 1971, Pakistan launched pre-emptive air strikes on Indian airbases, hoping to cripple India’s military capability and prevent any intervention in East Pakistan. This attack, combined with escalating cross-border skirmishes, provided India with the justification it needed to enter the war.

India, however, was prepared for the conflict. Her military intervention began in full force, and within days, Indian forces, alongside Mukti Bahini fighters, launched a coordinated offensive on multiple fronts. India’s Western and Eastern Commands, led by Lieutenant General Sam Manekshaw, made significant military gains in East Pakistan, pushing back the Pakistani military. In a swift and decisive campaign, Indian forces captured key cities, including the capital Dhaka, and effectively crippled the Pakistani military’s ability to control the region.

The war lasted only about two weeks, with intense fighting on both the eastern and western fronts. By December 16, 1971, Pakistani forces in East Pakistan had surrendered, and Bangladesh was officially born as an independent nation. The victory was a resounding success for India, marking the first time it had decisively intervened in a neighboring country’s struggle for independence, and it was a testament to the military prowess and strategic planning of the Indian armed forces.

The Aftermath: The Birth of Bangladesh and India’s Role in the New Nation

The creation of Bangladesh was a monumental event, not only for the people of East Pakistan but also for India, which played a decisive role in the country’s birth. For the Bengali people, it was the realization of their long-sought dream of independence from oppressive Pakistani rule. For India, the victory bolstered its position as a regional power and symbolized its commitment to supporting freedom movements and opposing imperialism.

The aftermath of the war saw the establishment of Bangladesh as a sovereign state with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the independence movement, becoming the country’s first president. India’s role in the creation of Bangladesh earned it a lasting place in the hearts of Bangladeshis, who continue to view India’s intervention as a pivotal moment in their country’s history, despite what many anti-India agents provocateurs are now saying.

However, the war also had significant geopolitical implications. Pakistan’s defeat led to a realignment in South Asia, and the relations between India and Pakistan became more complex and strained. India’s victory in the war also resulted in the release of over 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war, which created a tense situation for both countries in the years that followed.

Conclusion

India’s role in the 1971 Liberation War was nothing short of transformative. It was a military intervention that changed the course of history, not just for the people of Bangladesh but for the entire South Asian region. The war left an indelible mark on the geopolitical landscape, altering relations between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh for decades. India’s swift military action and unwavering support for the Bengali independence movement helped create Bangladesh, and it remains a testament to India’s commitment to regional stability and human rights. As Bangladesh celebrates its independence each year, it is a reminder of the sacrifice, courage, and friendship that played a central role in the creation of a new nation.

For the reasons stated above, we support Narendra Modi’s recognition of the Indian victory on Vijay Diwas. It is perhaps the last ‘good’ or humanitarian war fought in the twentieth century, and Indians should be proud of the role that their country played in it.