Vijay Diwas: Victory, Liberation, and the Atrocities That Must Not Be Forgotten

Vijay Diwas which is commemorated on December 16 is not just a celebration of India’s military victory, it is also a solemn reminder of the brutality inflicted by the Pakistani military in East Pakistan.

In 1971, over six months, Pakistani forces carried out systematic massacres, targeted killings of intellectuals, and mass rapes, using terror as a tool of oppression. German academic publisher Walter de Gruyter estimates 10 to 30 lakh lives were lost, with 200,000 to 400,000 women raped.

Entire communities were devastated, and the region’s population was terrorised to silence the demand for freedom.

A chilling account from Hariharpara describes prisoners being executed nightly, their bodies dumped into rivers, a stark testament to the cruelty faced by ordinary citizens.

This was the world’s first major modern conflict where rape was systematically used as a weapon of war.

India’s Intervention and Path to Liberation

India’s decisive support for the Mukti Bahini and intelligence assistance from R&AW turned the tide. When Pakistan launched pre-emptive attacks on Indian airbases, India swiftly gained control of East Pakistan’s airspace and severed communications with West Pakistan.

This military intervention, combined with strategic land, air, and naval operations, ultimately forced the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani troops on 16 December 1971, marking one of the largest military surrenders in history.

This victory not only liberated Bangladesh but also restored hope for millions who had suffered under the systematic marginalization and cruelty of West Pakistan, where Urdu was imposed as the national language over Bengali, and political representation was denied to the East.

The Road to Independence

The seeds of the conflict were sown long before 1971. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League won a decisive majority in Pakistan’s first direct elections in 1970, yet Yahya Khan refused to transfer power.

Attempts at mediation failed, and the Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight, targeting civilians, students, and leaders alike.

On 26 March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh’s independence, a bold step that triggered intensified brutality. India’s support and intervention were crucial in ending the massacre and ensuring Bangladesh’s emergence as a sovereign nation.

Reflection and Reminder

As India commemorates Vijay Diwas, it is vital to remember not only the victory over Pakistan but also the suffering endured by millions during the war. Recent political developments in Bangladesh, including anti-India rhetoric and threats toward India’s northeast, underline the need for reflection on the lessons of history.

If India had not intervened in 1971, Bangladesh might never have seen freedom, and there would have been no Vijay Diwas to celebrate. This day is both a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces and Mukti Bahini, and a reminder of the human cost of tyranny and the enduring value of justice, democracy, and freedom.

However, as India celebrates Vijay Diwas, commemorating its victory over Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh, a recent statement by Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP), has drawn attention.

He warned India to “cut off the Northeast” if Bangladesh is destabilized. Abdullah’s comment refers to the Seven Sisters, the seven northeastern states of India – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.

The NCP was formed in February this year by the same group that led protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last July, which forced her to leave Bangladesh temporarily. An interim government led by Mohammed Yunus took over, adopting an anti-India stance.