December 16 marks Vijay Diwas in India which commemorates the victory of India and the power of its military force over Pakistan in 1970.
On this day, Pakistan Army surrendered and subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. The Chief of Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to allied forces on Pakistan Army and Mukti Bahini, led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
The then Army chief, Military Cross Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw has been referred to as the most courageous and no-nonsense attitude general ever.
Also known as Sam Bahadur or Sam the Brave, Sam Manekshaw was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. His distinguished military career spanned four decades and five wars, beginning with service in the British Indian Army in World War II, Indo-Pakstan War of 1947, Sino Indian War of 1962, Indo Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo Pakistan War of 1971.
Born to Parsi parents on 3 April 1914, and brought up in Amritsar, Sam Manekshaw went to Sherwood College, Nainital. In 1932, he was among the first batch of 40 cadets to be selected for the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, with the intention that Indians should become commissioned officers in the British Indian army. In February 1934, he joined the 12 Frontier Force Rifles as a second lieutenant.
Khurki presents some of the quotable quotes that have come to define the greatness of Sam Manekshaw:
Proud Twitterati on Vijay Diwas:
Salute and Respect to our #IndianArmy, Best in the world ! #VijayDiwas pic.twitter.com/Ym1AGXLnH7
— Aman yadav (@amanyadav010) December 16, 2015
#vijaydiwas : salute armed forces, they risk their lives,to save ours.They sacrifice their own family lives so we enjoy ours.We r proud of u
— buddha chandrasekhar (@buddhabjp) December 16, 2015
Indira Gandhi’s farsightedness saved us from getting sandwiched between East & West Pakistan. My Salutes. #VijayDiwas
— Muktinath V (@muktinathv) December 16, 2015
The best tribute to the martyrs of #VijayDiwas is never to lose another live in war. India won but mothers lost their son in both nations !
— Gourab Das (@gourabd) December 16, 2015
Some poetry too, thanks to Saahir!
जंग तो ख़ुद हीं एक मअसला है जंग क्या मअसलों का हल देगी आग और खून आज बख़्शेगी भूख और अहतयाज कल देगी #sahir #VijayDiwas
— kala EF (@KalaYadav3) December 16, 2015
And then of course, our PM:
Today, on Vijay Diwas we salute the courage & indomitable spirit of our armed forces. Their service to India is unparalleled.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2015
So is the entire country! Proud to be an Indian…
