Vijay diwas/Vijay Dibos – Importance, history, Facts, and things your need to know
Every year on December 16, Indians commemorate the victory of the Indian armed forces over Pakistan during the 1971 war, which is known as Vijay Diwas. On this day, India pays tribute to all of the soldiers who have served their country in times of war.
A recent example of high-altitude warfare in mountainous terrain occurred when the Indian Army successfully ousted the military forces of a neighboring country and reclaimed control of high outposts in the region. This may have been the most recent such instance.
The story behind Vijay Diwas
It took 13 days of fighting for India to defeat Pakistan, and the victory was announced on December 16, 1971. General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the commander of Pakistan’s armed forces, surrendered to the joint forces of the Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini, along with 93,000 other Pakistani soldiers.
In addition, it was the largest military surrender in history following World War II.
The conflict began as a result of a rebellion in East Pakistan against the Islamabad government, which triggered the war. Pakistani forces were committing atrocities against the Bengali and Hindu minorities in East Pakistan, according to human rights organizations. Between 300,000 and 500,000 civilians were killed by Pakistani forces, according to estimates; however, the Bangladeshi government claims that the figure is three million.
Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took the decision to provide assistance to former East Pakistan after that. She made the decision to provide refuge to people fleeing from East Pakistan. A total of 8-10 million people are estimated to have left the country.
What caused the 1971 India-Pakistan war to begin?
On December 3, 1971, Pakistan launched airstrikes against 11 Indian airbases, marking the beginning of the war. Perhaps for the first time in Indian history, all three of the country’s armies fought in unison. For his part, Gandhi directed Army Chief General Sam Manekshaw to launch a full-scale offensive against the neighboring country.
By the time the war came to an end on December 16, India had taken in 93,000 prisoners of war. In August 1972, eight months after the war ended, India and Pakistan reached an agreement on the Shimla Agreement.
As part of the agreement, India agreed to release the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war held in Indian territory. Later, the agreement was criticized for failing to address India’s conflict with Pakistan over Kashmir, which was not addressed in the agreement. Critics had suggested that India could have used the Pakistani troops as a bargaining chip in order to get what it wanted.
What’s happening this year?
President Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to pay a visit to Drass on Monday in order to pay tribute to the memorial, which is located at the foothills of the Tololing mountain range. According to news reports, General Bipin Rawat, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), will also be present for the Kargil Vijay Diwas celebrations.
During Kargil Vijay Diwas, we commemorate Kargil’s war heroes, as well as the lives that were lost as a result of the war; soldiers who died in the line of duty while fighting for their country. Every year on this day, the Prime Minister pays tribute to the armed forces at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, also known as the ‘eternal flame,’ which is located at India Gate in New Delhi. Celebrate the contributions of the Indian Army by holding events in the Kargil sector and other locations throughout the country.
