Disgraceful, say veterans as Army HQ removes picture of historic surrender in Dhaka

As Vijay Divas approaches on 16 December, the removal of an iconic 1971 war photograph from its prominent position at the Army headquarters in  New Delhi has sparked attention

First row: Lt-Gen. A.A.K. Niazi, the Cdr. of Pakistani Eastern Comnd., signing the documented Instrument of Surrender in Dacca in the presence of Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora (GOC-in-C of Indian Eastern Comnd.). Surojit Sen of All India Radio is seen holding a microphone on the right. Second row (left to right): Vice Adm. N. Krishnan (FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Comnd.), Air Mshl. H.C. Dewan, (AOC-in-C Eastern Air Comnd.), Lt Gen. Sagat Singh (Cdr. IV Corps), Maj Gen. JFR Jacob (COS Eastern Comnd.) and Flt Lt Krishnamurthy (peering over Jacob’s shoulder).

Date3–16 December 1971

Chief of the Army Staff’s office in Delhi had a large picture of Pakistan Army Surrender event from the 1971 war.That picture has been replaced by this painting.Unbelievable!Simply unbelievable!

A painting depicting an imaginary victory celebration at the Pangong lake near the Galwan valley in Ladakh has replaced the iconic photograph of the ceremonial surrender of Pakistani soldiers to the Indian Army on 16 December, 1971 in  Dhaka following the liberation of Bangladesh.

The surrender followed a full-fledged war between India and Pakistan that lasted just about two weeks, during which the United States and China both sided with Pakistan and the United States sent its Seventh Fleet to the Indian Ocean to assist the Pakistani Navi.

As many as 90,000 Pakistani soldiers laid down their arms and the prisoners of war were brought back to India with full honour, detained in POW camps for a year or so before being returned as part of the Simla Pact.

While it is not clear when the photograph was removed from the army headquarters, veterans believe it is part of the ‘decolonisation’ drive undertaken by the BJP government for the past several years. The removal of the iconic photograph, however, is a serious mistake and an insult to the Indian armed forces.

The photograph of the surrender reflected a historic and comprehensive military victory and has inspired successive generations of officers and the ranks. Why would the government decide to remove it from its vantage position at the office of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) where military leaders from abroad and visitors liked to be photographed with the picture of the surrender as the backdrop?

Also Read: Bangladesh Liberation War: Two million lives that could have been saved, but were not

No explanation has come yet from the ministry of defence or the defence minister. Veterans however have voiced their dismay at the development. They are distressed at the recent changes forced on the Indian armed forces in the name of ‘decolonisation’ and question the assault on military history, tradition and creed.

They believe that reasons are entirely political and the BJP government at the Centre wants to erase the memory of the 1971 victory so that they do not have to give credit to the then PM Indira Gandhi.

Veterans have also questioned the rationale behind the removal of what is known as the ‘Chetwode Creed’ too from the army headquarters. Field Marshal Philip Chetwode was the Commander in Chief of the Indian Army and is credited for setting up of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. The Chetwode motto is derived from an address the Field Marshal gave to the Academy in 1932.

“I would ask you to remember that you have come here to have your first lessons in three principles which must guide an officer of a National Army,” the Field Marshal had said and laid down the three following rules to follow:

First: – The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time.

Second: – The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next.

Third: – Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.

Also Read: Liberation of Bangladesh, 1971: ‘Genocide’

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“I do not find anything colonial in what Field Marshal Chetwode said. In fact, his credo for officers is even more relevant today than in those times. And the cringeworthy amateurish Ladakh painting which imagines a victory, is no match for what the Indian Army actually achieved in  Dhaka on 16 December, 1971,” reflected military historian Man Aman Singh Chinna, the author of ‘The Seven Heroes of the 1971 War”.

Lt General H.S. Panag agreed and commented, “The photo/painting symbolising India’s first major military victory in a 1000 years and also first as a united nation, in 1971, has been removed by a hierarchy which believes that mythology, religion and distant fragmented feudal past will inspire future victories.”

Some of the veterans who weighed in pointed out that for the last 10 years the present BJP government has tried to project the Kargil war of 1999, when a BJP-led government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in power, as a more significant victory than the 1971 war.

Others recalled that PM Modi had claimed that he had taken part in the Bangladesh Liberation War and gone to jail; that it was just a matter of time before he claimed victory for the 1971 war too, a veteran sarcastically commented.

Also Read: BJP negating Indira Gandhi’s contribution in 1971 war: Congress

“We are waiting for the BJP & its supreme leader to say that they and he liberated Bangladesh… the govt which itself has nothing to  showcase is trying to fiddle around with history but forgets in the bargain that history, once written, cannot be erased by such childish acts of removing pictures. BJP wants to remove anything which the earlier govts did for the nation,” said another veteran.

Others recalled how the present government had stubbornly refused to turn INS Vikrant, India’s first aircraft carrier that played a stellar role in the 1971 war. It had decided to turn INS Vikrant as scrap. Was it also part of the mission to rewrite history and wipe out memories of Indira Gandhi?

At least one veteran pointed to the government’s decision to link the biometrics of all personnel of the Indian armed forces with Aadhaar. He alleged that the Aadhaar details have since been shared with agencies with possible connections to foreign intelligence agencies. 

“It takes a special kind of jaundiced thought process to remove your own military victory from public eye. Pandering to political whims has happened earlier in Indian military too but never at this scale. It is an insult to all those who fought and died in 1971 war and to the worthies in this photo,” reflected a veteran.

Army sources said that the new painting portrays the Army as a “guardian of Dharma, fighting not merely as a defender of the nation but to uphold justice and protect the nation’s values”

Officials are seen standing before the painting showing Pakistan’s surrender during the 1971 Bangladesh war. Photo: X/@adgpi

A new painting adorning the Army Chief’s lounge, where he greets visiting dignitaries, has miffed the veteran community. The new painting replaced the one showing the surrender during the 1971 Army sources said the new painting, ‘Karam Kshetra – Field of Deeds’, done by Lt. Col. Thomas Jacob of the 28 Madras regiment, portrays the Army as a “guardian of Dharma, fighting not merely as a defender of the nation but to uphold justice and protect the nation’s values”, and also captures the Army’s evolution into a “technologically advanced, integrated force”.

It shows snow-capped mountains in the backdrop, with the Pangong Tso lake in Eastern Ladakh on the right, and Garuda and Krishna’s chariot on the left, along with Chanakya and modern equipment such as tanks, all-terrain vehicles, infantry vehicles, patrol boats, indigenous Light Combat Helicopters and Apache attack helicopters.

“If one were to sum up, it signifies a country with a rich civilisation, one which has always believed in righteous cause, just use of force where needed, with renowned scholars, statesmen and strategists. It has a courageous, modern and capable Army which is always ready to defend its borders and interests,” Army sources said.

This painting represents the Indian Army’s timeless commitment to righteousness, as drawn from the teachings of the Mahabharata, sources said. “It portrays the Army as a guardian of Dharma, fighting not merely as a defender of the nation but to uphold justice and protect the nation’s values. This inspiration is complemented by the strategic and philosophical wisdom of Chanakya, whose principles guide the Army’s approach to leadership, diplomacy, and warfare,” a source said.

Of late, there has been a major effort to study ancient Indian texts and integrate India’s “ancient strategic acumen” into the contemporary military domain, and develop an “indigenous strategic vocabulary”, rooted in India’s “philosophy and culture”.

Sources said the new painting reflects how the modern Indian Army is equipped with cutting-edge systems, seamless coordination across land, air, and sea, and the readiness to strike swiftly and decisively against adversaries. “At its core, the painting honours the Army’s legacy of sacrifice, discipline, and valour, while highlighting its preparedness to meet future challenges with unwavering resolve,” sources added.

However, several veterans expressed concern on social media over the reason behind the move. Former Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen. H.S. Panag posted, “The photo/painting symbolising India’s first major military victory in a 1000 years and also first as a united nation, in 1971, has been removed by a hierarchy which believes that mythology, religion and distant fragmented feudal past will inspire future victories.”

“We are hitting the “absolute pits” and sadly my NDA course-mates are in the frame,” said a veteran on ‘X’ referring to the iconic picture.

The iconic picture from 1971 shows Lt. Gen. Niazi of Pakistan Army signing the instrument of surrender in East Pakistan in front of Indian Army’s Lt. Gen. Aurora that saw the surrender of 90,000 Pakistani soldiers and the birth of Bangladesh.

“One wonders what is the aim behind removal of the iconic 1971 Dacca surrender photo,” said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (Retd.) said on ‘X’. “Dignitaries & military heads of other countries meet the Army Chief here & see the symbol of the GREATEST EVENT IN INDIA’s & Indian Army’s history. Now, this ham-handed effort – at what?,” he observed.

It is not clear where the old painting was shifted to.

Congratulating the cadets, Punjab minister Aman Arora said their success will undoubtedly inspire other girls from the state.

Cadet Charanpreet Kaur, who hails from Kurali in SAS Nagar, is the daughter of Harminder Singh Banwait who works as a driver in a private company. Cadet Mahak, also a resident of SAS Nagar, is the daughter of Anil Kumar Dahiya who is a teacher in the government service. (Express Photos)

Two cadets from the state government-run Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls in Mohali have been selected for pre-commission training at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Telangana from January 2025.

Cadet Charanpreet Kaur, who hails from Kurali in SAS Nagar, is the daughter of Harminder Singh Banwait who works as a driver in a private company. Cadet Mahak, also a resident of SAS Nagar, is the daughter of Anil Kumar Dahiya who is a teacher in the government service.

Among the 192 women on the merit list, Kaur achieved an All India Rank (AIR) of 4, while Mahak secured an AIR of 23.

Congratulating the two for their feat, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora expressed that their success will undoubtedly inspire other girls from the state to pursue opportunities in serving the nation as commissioned officers in the defence services.

Also Read | 3 Punjab girls make it to Air Force Academy; training to begin in July

Arora said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had approved the path-breaking initiative to start an NDA Preparatory Wing for Girls at Mai Bhago AFPI last year. Four cadets from the Institute have already cleared the NDA entrance exam and are now preparing for their Services Selection Board (SSB) screening.

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Expressing his happiness over the selection of the cadets for the Air Force Academy, Mai Bhago AFPI Director Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu (Retd) said this achievement will further boost their efforts to send more girls from the state to various armed forces pre-commission training academies. He also extended his best wishes to the two cadets for a bright future in the Indian Air Force.

Nine alumni of Armed Forces preparatory institutes in Mohali became commissioned officers in the defence services on Saturday. While Arshdeep Kaur of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls has become a Flying Officer in the Indian Air…

Nine alumni of Armed Forces preparatory institutes in Mohali became commissioned officers in the defence services on Saturday.

While Arshdeep Kaur of Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls has become a Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force, the others are from the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) for boys.

Arshdeep Kaur, commissioned into the Meteorology Branch of the IAF from the Air Force Academy, is the daughter of Daljinder Pal Singh, a businessman from Khamano in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

Two former cadets of MRSAFPI, Gursher Singh Cheema from Sangrur district and Pratham Parmar from Kapurtala, were also commissioned into the IAF today.

Six others, Kritin Gupta from Ludhiana, Bhart Sharma and Sahildeep Singh from Amritsar, Sahilpreet Singh Sandhu from Patiala, Shiv Kumar from Kapurtala and Uttam Malik from Bhatinda, were commissioned as Lieutenants into the Indian Army from in the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

Recovery was made during search operations in Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts

Security forces recovered firearms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur’s Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts, police said.

The seized arms include an assault rifle, a single-barrel gun and hand grenades, they said.

The recovery was made during search operations in the Keirao Khunou area, a police statement said on Saturday.

In another operation at Khunkho Kuki village, rifles and 49 rounds of ammunition were seized, it said.

Gursher Singh Cheema from Sangrur and Pratham Parmar from Kapurthala commissioned as Flying Officers in Indian Air Force

Tribune News Service

Nine cadets from two armed forces preparatory institutes in Mohali have been commissioned into the Army and the Air Force. Eight of them are from the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (MRSAFPI) in SAS Nagar (Mohali), while one is from the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls, SAS Nagar (Mohali).

Among those selected from the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute included Kritin Gupta from Ludhiana, Bhart Sharma and Sahildeep Singh from Amritsar, Sahilpreet Singh Sandhu from Patiala, Shiv Kumar from Kapurtala and Uttam Malik from Bathinda. They were commissioned into the Army at the passing-out parade held at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. The parade was reviewed by Nepal Army Chief General Ashokraj Sigdel.

Two cadets from the institute, Gursher Singh Cheema from Sangrur and Pratham Parmar from Kapurthala, were commissioned as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force at the 214th combined passing-out parade of the Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM, the Chief of the Indian Air Force, reviewed the parade.

Institute’s director Major General Ajay H Chauhan, VSM (Retd), congratulated the cadets and called upon them to live up to the ideals of the defence services.

From the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Arshdeep Kaur has been commissioned as a Flying Officer into the Indian Air Force (IAF). Flying Officer Arshdeep Kaur, commissioned into the Meteorology Branch of the force, is the daughter of Daljinder Pal Singh, a businessman from Khamano in Fatehgarh Sahib district. Institute’s director Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd), conveyed his best wishes to Flying Officer Arshdeep Kaur for a promising future in the Indian Air Force.

Cabinet Minister of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Aman Arora congratulated the cadets on their commissioning into the armed forces and urged them to work hard and make Punjab proud.

204 cadets from flying, ground duty streams join service

Tribune News Service

The first batch of officers for the newly created Weapon Systems Branch of the Indian Air Force (IAF) passed out from the Air Force Academy (AFA) in Dundigal near Hyderabad on Saturday.

They were among the 204 cadets, including 26 women from flying and ground duty streams, who were commissioned as flying officers at the Combined Graduation Parade, which was reviewed by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.

A two-stage training curriculum has been developed for the weapon system operators, with initial training at the AFA and subsequent training at the newly established Weapon Systems School at Begumpet near Hyderabad to focus on specialised skills.

During the Air Force Day celebrations held at Chandigarh in 2022, the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, had announced the creation of the Weapon Systems Branch for its officers, aimed at unification of all weapon system operators in specialist ground-based systems and airborne platforms under a single stream. This is the first time since Independence that a new operational branch was created in the IAF.

“This will essentially be for manning of four specialised streams of surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, remotely piloted aircraft and weapon system operators in twin- and multi-crew aircraft,” Choudhari had said during his address. “Creation of this branch would result in savings of over Rs 3,400 crore due to reduced expenditure on flying training,” he had further said.

The branch is divided into four sub-streams, each with its own specialisation to carry out launch of weapons, collate information and even operate space assets. These are surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and all weapon system operators in twin-seat and multi-crew aircraft.

The first sub-stream is ‘Flying’Officers in this category will be weapon systems operators in aircraft like the Su-30MKI, attack helicopters like the AH-64E Apache, Soviet-origin Mi-25/35 and indigenous Prachand and special operations aircraft C-130J Super Hercules.

The second sub-stream is ‘Remote’, involving operations by UAVs or drones. There are several types of UAVs operated by the IAF for various missions such as attack, surveillance and logistics. Some are sourced from foreign suppliers like the US and Israel while others are designed and manufactured indigenously.

The third sub-stream is ‘Intelligence’, comprising interpretation of imagery obtained through surveillance assets in space, aircraft or UAVs. It will also include intelligence analysts, information warfare specialists, observers, signal intelligence collators as well as operators of space systems.

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Is it to wash away the 71 Victory accredited to Indira Gandhi of Congress?

Appeasement of a very low order.

Sad times of every Veteran who fought the 71 War, and for those who sacrificed their life on the single command of their Bosses ‘GO’

In the office of the Army Chief. the iconic image of the Pakistan Army surrendering at Dhaka on 16th December 1971 has been replaced by a supposedly mythical picture of tanks on the banks of the Pangong Tso overseen by seers and birds.

I hope those at the helm of affairs are aware that Bangladesh, 1971 is the only strategic victory this nation has won in 10 centuries. No mythology can replace such a feat of arms.

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