India completed 50 years of its victory over Pakistan in 1971

Pakistan’s unconditional surrender with 93,000 soldiers was the largest in the world since World War II.

A solemn ceremony was held at the National War Memorial at India Gate to commemorate the golden jubilee of the war, which gave India a new generation of heroes and changed the history and geography of South Asia forever. It also marked the culmination of the year-long Golden Victory Year celebrations led by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Army Chief General (later Field Marshal) Sam Manekshaw.

“On this special day of Victory Day, I have the honor of paying tribute at the National War Memorial and merging in the Eternal Flame, the four victory torches spread across the length and breadth of the country during the past one year,” Modi wrote on Twitter. .

The ceremony was attended by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Choudhary, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and other top military officials. Late Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat was eager to attend the event but was killed in a helicopter crash last week along with 13 others.

As a part of the Golden Victory Year celebrations to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the war, Modi lit the Golden Victory Torch from eternal flame at the National War Memorial on 16 December 2020 with four flames that later spread across the country.

“Since then, these four flames have spread across the length and breadth of the country including Siachen, Kanyakumari, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Longewala, Rann of Kutch and Agartala (before returning to Delhi). Flames were also carried to major war zones and homes of gallantry award winners and 1971 war veterans,” the government said.

Modi extinguished four flames at the war memorial during the reception of the Golden Victory torches on Thursday.

The families of the 1971 war heroes lauded the government’s move to celebrate the Golden Jubilee in a big way. Mukesh Khetrapal, brother of 2/Lt. Arun Khetrapal, one of India’s greatest war heroes, said that it is heartening to see that even after 50 years, the nation remembers heroes including Arun. Arun Khetrapal is among only 21 Indian soldiers to have been awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), India’s highest wartime military honor, for gallantry in the history of independent India. Khetarpal was only 21 years old and was commissioned into the Poona Horse only six months before the start of the war, when he destroyed seven Pakistani Patton tanks at the Battle of Basantar on 16 December 1971.

Rajnath Singh remembered the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers in the war. “On the occasion of Golden Vijay Diwas, we remember the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces during the 1971 war. The 1971 war is a golden chapter in the military history of India. We are proud of our armed forces and their achievements.” With the creation of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971.