1971 Indo-Pak war: A walk down the memory lane

CHENNAI: “Time is the best healer.” But, does this adage do justice when describing war survivors? Forty-nine years after the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, which led to the formation of Bangladesh, memories of the historic event are fresh in the minds of those who witnessed it. 

On December 16,1971, Pakistan was defeated and forced to publicly surrender to India–the largest military surrender since World War-II.  “The role my team played was small, but critical for our victory,” recalls Colonel Anantanarayanan Krishnaswamy. “After a 10-hour battle, we ambushed a much larger enemy force and made them surrender.” Colonel Krishnaswamy received the Veer Chakra for his role in the 1971 war, in which he was commanding the C-Company of the 10th Regiment of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. 

For Brigadier Muthulakshmi, who joined the Military Nursing Service in 1963, witnessing the impact of war on the women of Bangladesh was a life-changing experience. She was taken to Jessore in Bangladesh to set up a hospital after the war. “Women were raped and brutalised in Pakistani bunkers. We found under garments and hairpins strewn around them.” Today, the 80-year-old brigadier is still a fighter–seeking justice as an advocate for wives and daughters of ex-servicemen struggling to get their pension and other monetary benefits.  

Express caught up with a few war veterans who fought for India in 1971. The tales of what they saw and experienced do not fade with time.  

Col Anantanarayanan Krishnaswamy

Colonel Krishnaswamy was the recipient of Veer Chakra,  an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy on the battlefield, for his role in 1971 war. “I was commanding C Company of the 10th regiment of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. During the 1971 war in Eastern Sector, we were given a task of establishing a roadblock behind enemy lines in Jaideopur-Dhaka road on December 14-15. Our mission was to prevent enemy reinforcement from reaching Dhaka,” recounts Krishnaswamy. “In the action that followed, my troops successfully ambushed a much larger enemy force which had tank support as well. After 10 hours battle, the enemy surrendered. Our action was small but played an important role in India’s victory in war,” says Krishnaswamy.

Brigadier ML Narayanan

A school teacher, Brigadier Narayanan, a native of Kumbakonnam, joined the Army when war was looming large over the country. Posted at Chammb sector, Narayanan, who joined as a soldier and got promoted as an officer after clearing his Service Selection Board, says that during the period guns were operationally deployed in support of infantry and tanks.“It was usual for administrative staff to work in rear areas called wagon lines,” he says. Brig Narayanan’s Commanding Officer Gauri Shankar desired that he be in regimental command post so that he could assist the Commanding officer in staff duties. 

“The medium guns were in action day and night. One night, the enemy commandos attacked the wagon lines (administrative area in rear),” recalls Narayanan. The Commanding officer along with Narayanan and personal arms rushed to the rear area. The enemy had killed many troops, especially tradesmen in late hours of night.

“The assault group had exfiltrated leaving a stay-behind party. On seeing CO Jeep, they fired upon it. The tyre was punctured and CO dismounted and also got shot in his limbs,” recalls Narayanan. Narayanan returned the fire but the enemy fled after achieving their aim. He later carried his commanding officer for about a kilometre to the medical post from where the CO was evacuated to safety. Brigadier Narayanan after the incident named his younger son Gauri Shankar after his commanding officer. 

Sqadron Leader ST Narayanan

Squadron Leader ST Narayanan was attached to 222 Squadron which had Sukhoi - 7 fighter bomber aircraft in May 1971. “I was the Technical Officer of the sqn. The squadron moved to Halwara in July 1971. The war started on December 3. Pakistani Air Force  aircraft bombed Halwara AF Station. Luckily we did not suffer any loss.