Last Updated on 14 December 2024IST: Swarnim Vijay Diwas: 16 December is celebrated as Vijay Diwas every year to reflect India’s victory saga in Bangladesh’s independent claim from Pakistan in 1971. It is celebrated as the day on which Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the chief of Pakistan’s security forces, had to surrender to the Indian Army along with his 93,000 soldiers.

Vijay Diwas 16 December 2024 Highlights

• India won a historic victory over Pakistan on 16 December. The victory divided Pakistan into two parts and created a new nation recognised as Bangladesh.
• Approximately 3,900 Indian soldiers were martyred and 9,851 soldiers were injured in this war that lasted for 13 days.
• Approximately 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered at the end of the war.
• A three-day event is organised in Amritsar by the Indian Army showcasing displays of weapons and equipment equipped with the latest technology from 13th to 15th December.

India observes 53rd Vijay Diwas

India is celebrating the 52nd Anniversary today on completion of 50 years of the victory of the war of 16 December 1971. In 1971, the former slaves of Pakistan were acceded and an independent Bangladesh was established. As a symbol of valor and sacrifice of the Indian Army, the whole country celebrates 16 December as Victory Day every year.

All You Need to Know About Swarnim Vijay Diwas

Vijay Diwas 16 December: Every year Vijay Diwas is observed on 16th December in the entire nation, remembering its victory over Pakistan in the year 1971. This day is also special for the people of Bangladesh as they got their independence on this very day. The war began on 3rd December 1971 and lasted for 13 long days. After 13 days, on 16th December, 93000 Pakistani troops under their General AAK Niazi were defeated by Indian forces and Bangladeshi’s Mukti Bahini, declaring victory over Pakistan. 

Why is Vijay Diwas observed on 16th December?

Vijay Diwas 16 December: 16th December is a historic day in the Indian subcontinent. On this day India achieved a historic victory over Pakistan. On 16th December, 1971, India divided Pakistan into two parts by giving a crushing defeat in the war and thus Bangladesh came into existence. In this war which lasted for 13 days, 3,900 Indian soldiers were martyred and 9,851 soldiers were injured. In the 1971 war, approximately 93 thousand Pakistani soldiers surrendered to India.

Circumstances That Led to the War

The basic reason for this war was the cruelty that was used by the Islamabad Government on the people of east Pakistan (now Bangladesh) which soon turned into a rebellion. With the help of armed forces, the government tried to control and torture bengali and hindu people (which were in minority) in the state of east Pakistan. 

■ Also Read: Kargil Vijay Diwas: A Day To Remember The Martyrdom Of Brave Soldiers

Their retaliation was not heard. Around 4 lakh people were killed by the armed forces while in actuality the Bangladeshi government says the figure is around 3 million. Seeing this, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi extended her support to help the refugees coming from the nation and decided to provide support to East Pakistan as well. 

How Was the War Ignited?

The war started when Pakistan on 3rd December attempted air strikes on 11 Indian air base stations. The Bengali Nationalists Group in Bangladesh soon got the approval of the support from the Indian Army against Pakistan in their struggle for independence. Both the western and eastern front of the nation that were aligned with Pakistan were used to fight war with the neighboring nation.

■ Read in Hindi: विजय दिवस (Vijay Diwas): आज राष्ट्र कर रहा है 1971 युद्ध के शहीदों को याद

The very next day on 4th December 1971, Operation Trident was conducted by India in which a surprise attack was executed by the Indian Navy’s Western naval command on Karachi Port with the codeword trident. Southern command were deployed on the borders to protect the nation at the time of the war. Mukti Bahini guerrillas from East Pakistan also collaborated with the Indian Army in the fight. 

And on the day of 14th December 1971, a house where a meeting was taking place with the governor of east pakistan was attacked by IAF and Pakistan, giving them no clue about it. Around 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered at that time and soon the complete surrender started and signed at Dhaka on 16th December 1971. 

Quotes for Swarnim Vijay Diwas 2024

“Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” –

Mahatma Gandhi

“We are Indians, firstly and lastly.”

B. R. Ambedkar

“Citizenship consists in the service of the country.”-

Jawaharlal Nehru

What Happened After the War?

• This intense war is so significant to the nation that it was given the name of Vijay Diwas for the celebrations in the coming years.
• East Pakistan got its freedom and was recognised with the name Bangladesh since then.
• Around 3900 Indian soldiers lost their lives and around 9851 were injured because of the war.
• Approximately, 93000 prisoners of war were taken in custody by the Indian armed forces.
• Eight months after the war, a Shimla agreement was signed between India and Pakistan as a peace treaty and to release those 93,000 prisoners of war, and the same was executed. 

Vijay Diwas 2024 Events

• A 3-day event program commemorating Vijay Diwas is observed and has been initiated on 13th December till 15th December.
• Vajra Corps are putting on this event at the city of Amritsar. It includes the display of ‘Weapons and Equipments’ (13th & 14th December) followed by a cultural extravaganza, movie clip and military campaigns at Gobindgarh Fort, Amritsar (15th December) under the name ‘Ek Shaam Veero Ke Naam’.
• The ‘Weapon and Equipment Display’ program will be held for two days at Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum, Amritsar from 13th December, displaying military hardware, start-of-art equipment with latest technology.
• This display is set to be a part of ‘Know Your Army’ initiative, manifesting the technological advancements in the Indian defence.
• Various other events like a cycle rally in Jodhpur with the name ‘Warrior on the Wheels’, flag hoisting ceremonies and patriotic events like these are organised throughout the nation.

Vijay Diwas 2024: How Bangladesh was Born In the 13-Day Indo-Pak War?

Pakistan Army surrendered to India on 16th December, 1971, because of intelligence used by the Indian Army in a short war of 13 days. Bangladesh came into existence as a separate nation. Let’s know what was the incident-

• At the beginning of the year 1971, Pakistani military dictator Yahya Khan had put a state of war on March 25, 1971 by ordering the military forces to crush the public sentiments of Pakistan.

• Mujibur Rahman was arrested and there was an influx of refugees from East Pakistan coming to India.

• Pakistan’s army started to show off and India was under pressure to intervene militarily.

• The immediate prime minister, Indira Gandhi, took the opinion of the Chief of the Army Staff, General Manekshaw, about invading Pakistan in April. On the advice of Major General JFR Jacob, Manekshaw suggested fixing the time after the monsoon.

• On December 3, 1971, the Pakistan Air Force started bombing Pathankot, Srinagar, Amritsar, Jodhpur, Agra etc. military air bases.

• The Indian Army retaliated by capturing Jessore and Khulna.

• On 14 December, the Indian Army blew off the roof of the government building in Dhaka, where the secret meeting of the Pakistani Officials was  going on. 

• Immediate Army Major Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw sent Major General Jacob to Dhaka to arrange for the surrender by the Pakistan Army.

• Niyazi had 26400 soldiers in Dhaka while India had only 3000 soldiers 30 km away from Dhaka. Major General Jacob prepared General Niyazi to lay down arms.

• In the evening, Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Arora and Niazi both signed the Instrument of Surrender by the Pakistan Army.

• With moist eyes, Niazi surrendered his revolver to General Arora. Angered by this, the local people got down to kill Niazi but the Indian Army  safely drew Niazi out. 

• On December 16, along with Pakistan’s General Niazi, about 93 thousand Pakistani soldiers laid down their arms in front of the Indian Army.

Indira Gandhi was given the news of the great victory won by General Manekshaw in Bangladesh. She was in the Parliament house at that time and she made the announcement of India’s victory. After this the whole country got immersed in observing the same. However, freedom is not a one day process, it takes years to build. In the same way, we as our souls are also entrapped here in this cruel cycle of birth and death operated by Satan (Kaal Brahm). Let’s know about the real freedom of our souls.

The Real Freedom

With such a great struggle for freedom recorded in our history books, we are definitely aware about the need to have freedom. Although we aren’t aware about it completely, the reality is that we are entrapped here in the cycle of birth and death. And freeing oneself from it is what we call salvation. You must have heard about the term ‘Salvation’ or ‘Moksh’ every now and then but its true meaning is still not known to many.  We are diverted from the prime goal of our human life and are busy gathering money, forgetting God in the process. The prime goal of this human life is salvation which can only be attained by worshiping Supreme God Kabir. The method of worship of which can only be revealed by taking Naam Diksha (Initiation) from a Complete Saint. 

Presently, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj is the singular Complete Saint and the representative of Supreme God Kabir. The reason why we say so is because He has proven this from the wealth of authentic true spiritual knowledge He possesses, also found in our sacred texts as well. The rest are befooling innocent devotees in the name of their fake experiences that don’t match with the Holy Scriptures. Not just that, even His devotees are getting unimaginable benefits, crushing the principles of science completely. 

He (Sant Rampal Ji) is not just merely a sant, He is the incarnation of Supreme God Kabir Himself. He is here to take us back to our everlasting abode Satlok where curses like death don’t exist, we become immortal, the place is called Satlok, Sikh people call it Sachkhand. Let’s know how we can end up there.

How Can You Fight to Go Back to Your Real Country- Satlok?

The main aim of human life is to attain salvation. Salvation is the attainment of Satlok, as outlined in verse 62 of chapter 18 of holy Geeta ji. Satlok is the place where there is no sorrow, no grief, no pain, no sadness, and no negativity, giving permanent happiness to all. The only way to reach this tremendous place is through the worship of Supreme God Kabir. The method of worship given by a Tatvdarshi Sant (Complete Sant) is the path to salvation. So, we should not delay in understanding His true spiritual knowledge and take His refuge as soon as possible, as in the uncertain world, we never know what is coming to us the next moment.

Seek refuge in Jagatguru Tatvadarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj

In order to know more and learn about His path-breaking true spiritual knowledge, you can visit His website www.jagatgururampalji.org or alternatively you can also watch His spiritual discourses at His youtube channel ‘Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’. And if you want to take Naam Diksha (Initiation) from Him, you can fill your details here.

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