Vijay Diwas and its Significance

Signing ofย Pakistani Instrument of Surrenderย by Pakistan’s Lt.Gen.ย A. A. K. Niaziย to the Joint Commander of the Liberation Force Lt. Gen.ย Jagjit Singh Auroraย inย 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 Indiaโ€™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 โ€˜Sam Bahadurโ€™, 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’.ย  The message was dire, fight was severe and as a result surrender was certain.

It’s an 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 Pakistanโ€™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 regards 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 Indiaโ€™s front which 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.

Read Also: ย Victory over Japan Day

Read Also: Bangladesh Victory Day and its Significance


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