Former Army Chief General VN Sharma (Retd) emphasized on Sunday that one of the key takeaways from the 1971 India-Pakistan war is that warfare extends beyond the battlefield and involves political and diplomatic efforts.
His remarks came during the launch of the new book 1971 Strategy Campaign Valor, authored by 22-year-old Satyajit Lall, an emerging figure in global affairs, war studies, and military history, who is an alumnus of Delhi University.
The book honours the Indian heroes of the 1971 war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh, and highlights significant battles fought during the conflict.
The launch event was attended by several Indian military veterans from all three branches of the armed forces who participated in the war, as well as the families of many war veterans. Notably, the family of the late Lt. General Sagat Singh was present, including his son, Colonel Ranvijay Singh, and his daughter, Meghna Singh.
General Sharma, who served as the Army Chief from 1988 to 1990, and participated in the 1971 war as a Colonel, shared some of his personal recollections of the conflict during the event. In his address at the event, he praised the then-prime minister Indira Gandhi for her leadership, and said “She did a great job”.
“One of the great lessons of 1971 is…”
“In a war, it’s not only the military, the whole government, the civil services, police services, transport and railways, navy, merchant navy, they all get together under the order of the prime minister,” he said adding, “One of the great lessons of 1971 is that it’s not (just) a military affair. It’s a total affair, it’s politics, diplomacy, and when you combine, it’s a tremendous force.”
The Indian armed forces joined forces with the ‘Mukti Bahini’ of what was then East Pakistan, leading to the creation of an independent Bangladesh in December 1971 after Dhaka fell and Pakistani forces surrendered. India recently marked the 50th anniversary of this victory, known as the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh.’
In his remarks, Baijal, who was serving as a civil servant in Assam during the 1971 war, reflected on his experiences managing the influx of refugees from East Pakistan into the state. Other veterans from the armed forces also shared their memories of the war and life during that period.
During a panel discussion, Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd) reminisced about being at the National Defence Academy (NDA) and preparing for their Passing Out Parade (PoP) in December 1971. Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) commended the book’s young author, Satyajit Lall, for his dedication to sparking renewed interest in the 1971 war, particularly among younger readers.
What did the author say?
The author, Satyajit Lall said, “Three and a half years ago, I ventured into the history of the 1971 War and discovered untapped material, untold stories and unsung heroes. . I am privileged to be the first civilian in India granted access to study the newly declassified documents.”
He added, “An important reason for writing the book is to familiarize the millennials and Gen Z with the war to liberate Bangladesh 1971, as it is not part of the educational curriculum.”
Recalling unknown episodes, including the crossing of the Meghna River by the Indian Armed Forces, Satyajit Lall added, “In 1971 as India’s armed forces stormed the enemy strongholds we came not as conquerors but as liberators. Our soldiers, sailors and air warriors carried with them the seeds of democracy among those who yearned to be free again.”
He added, “I hope that my book 1971 Strategy Campaign Valor will help form diplomatic doctrines, craft military and intelligence policy, contribute to further critical thinking, and recognize the many unsung heroes of 1971.”
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