National Victory Day (16 December) History, Significance, Theme and Observation

National Victory Day Quick Facts

National Victory Day Brief

Every year on 16 December, Victory Day is celebrated because of India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. 'Victory Day' is celebrated every year on 16 December to commemorate India's victory over the Pakistan Army in the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. About 3,900 Indian soldiers were martyred in this war in the year 1971, while 9,851 were injured.

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Why is celebrate National Victory Day?

Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on 16 December to commemorate India's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. At the end of the war, Lt Gen AAK Niazi, the commander of the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan, surrendered to Lt Gen Jagat Singh Arora, the Eastern Army Commander of India, after which 93,000 Pakistani soldiers were taken prisoner of war on 17 December.

India defeated Pakistan in the 1971 war, after which East Pakistan became independent and Bangladesh was created. The war proved to be historic and heart-wrenching for every countryman.

When did Bangladesh become Independent?

Bangladesh Liberation War: The independence struggle of Bangladesh took place in 1971, it is also called 'liberation war'. This war lasted from 25 March to 16 December in the year 1971. Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan through this bloody war.

Reasons for the 1971 Indo-Pak war:

The background of the 1971 Indo-Pak war started forming from this year itself. On March 25, 1971, the military dictator of Pakistan, Yahia Khan, ordered to crush the public sentiments of East Pakistan with military force.

After this Sheikh Mujeeb was arrested. Then many refugees from there started coming to India continuously. When the news of the misbehavior of the Pakistani army in India came, then there was pressure on India to intervene there through the army. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wanted the attack to be carried out in April.

In this regard, Indira Gandhi took the opinion of the Chief of the Army Staff, General Manekshaw. Then India had only one mountain division. This division did not have the capacity to build bridges. Then the then Chief of Army Staff, General Manekshaw, clearly told Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that he wanted to enter the battlefield with full preparation.

When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was addressing a public meeting in Calcutta on December 03, 1971. In the evening of the same day, Pakistani Air Force planes crossed the Indian airspace and started dropping bombs on military airports like Pathankot, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Agra etc. Indira Gandhi returned to Delhi at the same time and held an emergency meeting of the cabinet.

After the start of the war, the Indian army, moving rapidly in the east, captured Jessore and Khulna. The strategy of the Indian Army was to leave the important bases and move forward first. On 14 December, the Indian Army intercepted a secret message that an important meeting was about to take place at the Government House in Dhaka at eleven o'clock in the afternoon, which would be attended by senior officials of the Pakistani administration. The Indian Army decided that bombs should be dropped on that building at this time. During the meeting itself, MiG-21 aircraft dropped bombs on the building and blew up the roof of the main hall. Governor Malik wrote his resignation almost with trembling hands.

On the morning of 16 December, General Jacob received a message from Manekshaw to immediately reach Dhaka to prepare for surrender. Jacob's condition was deteriorating. Niazi had 26,400 soldiers in Dhaka, while India had only 3000 soldiers and that too 30 km away from Dhaka. The Indian army completely took hold of the war. Arora along with his crew was about to land in Dhaka in a couple of hours and the ceasefire was about to end soon. Jacob had nothing in his hand. When Jacob entered Niazi's room, there was silence. The document of surrender was placed on the table.

General Arora landed at Dhaka airport in a helicopter at around 4.30 pm. Arora and Niazi sat in front of a table and both signed the surrender document. Niazi took off his badges and handed over his revolver to General Arora. Indira Gandhi was giving a TV interview in her office in the Parliament House. That's when General Manekshaw informed him of the spectacular victory in Bangladesh. Indira Gandhi declared in the Lok Sabha amidst the noise that India had won the war. The joy of this historic victory fills the heart of every Indian with enthusiasm even today.

Consequences of the 1971 Indo-Pak War:

After the attack on Indian bases from Pakistan side on 3 December 1971, Indian troops started a campaign to liberate East Pakistan. The goal of freeing Dhaka was never set before the Indian Army. There was also a lot of differences among the Indian generals about this. Going back, the Pakistani army tried to stop the Indian army's campaign by breaking the bridges, but by December 13, the Indian soldiers started seeing the buildings of Dhaka.

Pakistan still had 26400 soldiers to defend Dhaka, while India's only 3000 soldiers were outside the border of Dhaka, but the morale of the Pakistanis was going down. The Border Security Force and Mukti Bahini played an important role in the surrender of Pakistani troops in the 1971 war. In the Hili and Jamalpur sectors, Indian troops faced stiff resistance from Pakistan.

East Pakistani refugees migrating to India before the war, at one point in India, had some 15 million refugees from Bangladesh. Lakhs of Bengalis decided to leave their homes and take refuge in neighboring India as refugees. The Mukti Bahini ambushed Pakistani soldiers at several places and when captured, handed them over to the Indian soldiers.

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