53rd Anniversary of Vijay Diwas | 17 Dec 2024

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Recently, India commemorated Vijay Diwas on 16^th December marking the 53rd anniversary of its victory in the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh.  

• National leaders, including the President and Prime Minister (PM), paid tributes to the fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in Delhi. 

What was the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War? 

• About: 
  • The Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971 was an armed conflict between erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now Pakistan) resulting in the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan. 
• Origin: 
  • The roots of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War trace back to the 1947 Partition of India, which divided the subcontinent along religious lines. 
  • Pakistan was created as a Muslim-majority state in response to meet the demand of Jinnah. 
  • Despite uniting under religion, stark geographical, cultural, and linguistic differences between East and West Pakistan sowed discord. 
• Causes of 1971 War: 
  • Social Exploitation: Post-independence, West Pakistan perceived East Pakistan as culturally inferior due to its historical ties with the Hindu-dominated elite before Partition. This perception fueled systematic discrimination against the Bengali population. 
  • Linguistic Marginalisation: The imposition of Urdu as Pakistan's national language disregarded Bengali, the predominant language of East Pakistan, leading to widespread unrest and protests. 
  • Political Discrimination: West Pakistan dominated the central government, with power concentrated among the Punjabi elite. East Pakistan, despite its larger population, had minimal representation in decision-making. 
    • The 1970 elections, won decisively by the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Awami League, symbolized East Pakistan's demand for autonomy but were met with resistance from West Pakistani leaders, triggering unrest. 
  • Economic Exploitation: East Pakistan faced severe economic neglect and exploitation.  
    • East Pakistan, despite generating 62% of Pakistan's revenue, received only 25% of the national budget for its development. 
  • Employment Disparities: West Pakistanis occupied the majority of administrative and higher-ranking positions, while Bengalis were underrepresented in both civil and military services, further deepening inequalities. 
• Key Events of the War: 
  • Operation Searchlight (25th March 1971): 
    • The Pakistani military launched a brutal crackdown on Dhaka and other regions of East Pakistan to suppress Bengali nationalist movements. 
    • The operation targeted students, intellectuals, and political leaders, leading to widespread killings and destruction. 
  • Independence and Provisional Government: 
    • Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s proclamation of Bangladesh’s independence marked the formal beginning of the Liberation War. 
    • The Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighters) was formed to organize guerrilla warfare against Pakistani forces. 
    • Later, the Provisional Government of Bangladesh was established in Mujibnagar and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared President. 
  • Military Campaigns by Mukti Bahini (April–December 1971): 
    • The Mukti Bahini conducted guerrilla operations across East Pakistan, targeting Pakistani forces and disrupting supply chains. 
  • Refugee Crisis in India (Mid-1971): 
    • Over 10 million refugees fled to India due to the Pakistani military’s atrocities. 
    • India, under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, provided humanitarian aid and later extended military and diplomatic support to the Mukti Bahini.

What was India's Response to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War? 

• Initial Caution and Humanitarian Crisis: 
  • India initially adopted a cautious stance, but the military crackdown by Pakistan in East Pakistan led to a mass exodus of refugees- approximately 8-10 million, predominantly Hindus, fleeing to India. 
  • India set up refugee camps in eastern states, primarily in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya. 
• Diplomatic Efforts: 
  • India sought global support to expose Pakistan's atrocities and garner international pressure. 
• Military Intervention and Outcome: 
  • The war began on 3rd December 1971 when Pakistan launched air strikes on Indian military bases on western fronts, prompting India to retaliate with air strikes and launch coordinated operations on both the Eastern and Western fronts.  
  • India provided critical support to the Mukti Bahini, a 20,000-strong guerrilla force of Bangladeshi fighters, by training them and leveraging their knowledge of East Pakistan's geography.  
  • The conflict lasted 13 days, with India’s military forces, including the Navy and Air Force, making significant advances.  
  • On 16^th December 1971, Pakistan’s Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender in Dhaka, resulting in the surrender of over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers, marking one of the largest military capitulations since World War II and leading to the creation of Bangladesh. 
• Consequences of the War: 
  • The war led to the repudiation of Jinnah’s two-nation theory, undermining Pakistan’s claim over Kashmir and significantly weakening its position in South Asia. 
    • Jinnah's two-nation theory asserted that Hindus and Muslims were distinct nations with irreconcilable religious, cultural, and social differences, necessitating separate nations to safeguard their respective interests. 
  • India strengthened its international image by offering humanitarian aid and  thextending support toe victims of Pakistan's repression, showcasing its commitment to human rights and compassion.