The National Flag was raised on a 108-foot-tall mast at Laungewala Yudh Sthal in Rajasthan on Saturday in remembrance of the valor displayed by Indian Army soldiers during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
“The Flag Foundation of India and the Indian Army worked together to make this initiative possible,” the Indian Army said.
War veterans Naik Jagdev Singh and Hav Mukhtiyar Singh from 23 Punjab, who fought in this momentous conflict 53 years ago, attended the event. Eight additional Jaisalmer district veterans of the 1971 war joined them.
Those in attendance included members of the Indian Air Force, the Border Security Force, civil administration, well-known individuals, and the local community.
The Army stated, “The flag’s unfurling is a tribute to the Indian armed forces’ unwavering spirit and a symbol of national pride.”
The 13-day India-Pakistan War ended on December 16, 1971, when Pakistan signed the instrument of surrender in Dhaka. As a result, more than 93,000 soldiers surrendered, and the Pakistan Army fully submitted to Indian forces. Following this decisive victory, India announced itself as a major regional force.
West Pakistan suffered greatly with the creation of Bangladesh, and the effects are still felt today. Dhaka’s physical collapse was accompanied by Pakistan’s psychological defeat. It disproved the two-nation theory, which held that Muslims on the subcontinent were a single nation.
December 16 is celebrated nationally as “Vijay Diwas” to honor India’s victory over Pakistan, which is a historic milestone for the country. It is estimated that 9,851 Indian soldiers were wounded and 3,900 Indian soldiers are thought to have died during the 1971 conflict.
