Even as the armed forces are commemorating across the country the 50th year of the India-Pakistan 1965 war, the Narendra Modi Government is planning to celebrate the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war on a grand scale this year end. India defeated Pakistan in the 15-day war and forced the surrender of more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers.
Besides educating the young generation about the valour of Indian armed forces during that war which took place in December 1971, the Government also plans to highlight the role of Indian soldiers during the 1962 war with China. Though India suffered defeat in that war, soldiers fought valiantly despite lacking equipment and logistical support.
Exhibitions, film shows and re-enactment of military actions during 1971 and 1962 wars will take place in cities all over the country, including the national capital, sources said here on Tuesday. Terming the response to the ongoing commemoration of 1965 war as “very good,” they said that focus is on participation of common man in these events.
Citing the example of the exhibition put up at Rajpath here, they said the organisers have done away with security restrictions which put off citizens and carnival like atmosphere is the core. learning from this experience, the future events like the 1962 and 1971 wars will also be organised in the same manner, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to participate in the celebrations in the next few days at Rajpath and sources said he will come to the venue unannounced so as not to put the crowds to inconvenience generally seen during a VIP visit.
To celebrate the victory in the 1971 war, in addition to exhibitions, parades and martial band displays, the Government will bring out an easy to read book for common man about the conflict, they said. Explaining the need for such a book, officials said official history of that war is for experts and masses find such records too tedious. In fact, plans are also afoot to bring out official record of all the wars India fought since 1947 besides counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, they added.
The Government has also approved proposal to highlight the role of Indian soldiers who fought for the British during World War-II.
More than one lakh Indians took part in military campaigns in theaters ranging from Europe to Africa to Far East. History books are replete with heroics of Indian soldiers during the Africa campaign when Allied Forces led by General Bernard Montgomery defeated German Army led by legendary General Erwin Rommel.
The decision to note the contribution of Indian soldiers during World War-II was taken after an exhibition put up by the Indian Army here earlier this year to mark the 100 years of World War-I drew good response. More than 75,000 Indians had died during World War One and the conditions in which they fought were depicted in that exhibition attended by VIPs and people from all walks of life, including school and college students, they said.