Signing of Pakistani Instrument of Surrender by Pakistan’s Lt.Gen. A. A. K. Niazi to the Joint Commander of the Liberation Force Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora in Dhaka on 16 December 1971 | commons. Wikimedia
Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on 16 December. On this day, Indian Armed Forces, including veterans, citizens, and students, pay tribute to and remember the sacrifices of their soldiers. Vijay Diwas celebrates India’s historic military victory against Pakistan in the 1971 war, which also liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan. It commemorates the victory of Bangladesh and Indian forces over Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. It Bangladesh, the day is observed as Bangladesh Victory Day.
Manekshaw, popularly known as ‘Sam Bahadur’, was the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The message given by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to Pakistan on 13th December 1971 was ‘You surrender, or We wipe you out’. The message was dire, fight was severe and as a result surrender was certain.
'You surrender or We wipe you out' was the message given by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to Pakistan on 13th December 1971.
The Field Marshal lived his words as the world will see unprecedented surrender of more than 93000 Pakistani soldiers.#IndianArmy#AlwaysVictorious pic.twitter.com/qQGSOMuzlC
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 15, 2020
It’s a historic day for a few Asian countries. Kazakhstan gained independence too.
History of Vijay Diwas
In 1971, Bangladesh fought the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan to become an independent nation, leading to the secession of East Pakistan from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the establishment of Bangladesh.
Since India and Pakistan’s partition in the year 1947, there has always been fuming animosity between the two countries for many reasons. One of these reasons was with regard to East Pakistan. The events leading to the 1971 war were what prompted the Indian troops to get involved. The war between Pakistan and India lasted for 13 days, ending on 16 December 1971, and resulting in the liberation of a new country by the name of Bangladesh. It was India’s front that made nearly 93 thousand Pakistani soldiers surrender and altered the contours of the map of the world.
Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, Commanding Officer of the Pakistan Armed Forces, signed the Instrument of Surrender on 16 December 1971. A written surrender agreement that allowed Pakistan to surrender in the Bangladesh Liberation War, marking the end of the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971
On 16 December 1971, the surrender happened at the Ramna Racecourse in Dhaka. Thousands of people cheered as Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi and Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora signed the agreement.
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Events on Vijay Diwas 2022
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today attended the ‘At Home’ reception at Army House on the eve of Vijay Diwas.
The Prime Minister tweeted:
“On the eve of Vijay Diwas, attended the ‘At Home’ reception at Army House. India will never forget the valour of our Armed Forces that led to the win in the 1971 war.”
On the eve of Vijay Diwas, attended the 'At Home' reception at Army House. India will never forget the valour of our Armed Forces that led to the win in the 1971 war. pic.twitter.com/apG69cObzw
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 15, 2022
A ‘Southern Star Vijay Run-22‘ will be organized by HQ Southern Command on 16 December 2022 to commemorate the historic victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War. Across the Southern Command Area of Responsibility, Vijay Diwas is being celebrated simultaneously in Pune and fifteen other cities.