THE PSALM OF VALIANCE
THE WEEK|December 12, 2021
With prime minister Indira Gandhi’s backing, General Sam Manekshaw crafted a ‘perfect war’ against Pakistan in 1971; even in triumph, he stayed modest and moderate
R. PRASANNAN
THE PSALM OF VALIANCE

On March 25, 1971, General Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw received a call in Pune, while visiting the Southern Command headquarters. His military assistant Depinder Singh was on the line from Delhi. Pakistan army had begun a crackdown in East Pakistan; prime minister Indira Gandhi, who had been sworn in a week ago after her resounding victory in the general elections, shall see him in the operations room in Delhi at 10:30pm.

Reaching just in time, Sam received the prime minister and defence minister Jagjivan Ram at the South Block steps. Maps had been rolled out; the ops room officers were ready. But Sam was not.

As the general spoke of the precarious military position, the smile on Indira’s face vanished. She had hoped to see a democratic government in Pakistan, where, too, an election had been held in December. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League, which was popular in the east, had won most seats in the National Assembly; but military ruler Yahya Khan, on the advice of his predecessor Ayub Khan’s foreign minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was refusing to hand overpower. This had led to Rahman seeking autonomy for the east which, though richer in resources and education, had been getting less government funds and fewer jobs than the west. The east had also been demanding Bengali as the national language in addition to Urdu, which had been imposed by the rulers from the west.

The prime minister informed her Army chief that Rahman had been arrested the previous night and taken to the west, and there were street protests in the east. The Pakistan army was shooting people, looting homes, burning shops and raping women. Refugees could soon be flowing into India. Could Sam do something?

Bu hikaye THE WEEK dergisinin December 12, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye THE WEEK dergisinin December 12, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE WEEK DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
War Over Wounded Earth
THE WEEK India

War Over Wounded Earth

For the BJP andthe Congress, the ravaged farmlands of Vidarbha represent a cxitieal battleground in their larger struggle to win Maharashtra

time-read
9 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Say no to continual elections
THE WEEK India

Say no to continual elections

Following the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind to streamline the widely scattered schedule of national, state and local elections, the Union cabinet has reportedly approved two constitutional amendment bills for likely introduction in Parliament. Predictably, the return of the ‘one nation, one election’ issue to news has set off a flurry of objections by several opposition leaders.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Fabulously, fashionably funny
THE WEEK India

Fabulously, fashionably funny

The third season of the Karan Johar-produced Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives dropped on Netflix, but articles criticising the show appear in some news site or the other almost daily. If it is so bad, why keep writing about it? And if it is so bad, why would the superpowers at Netflix, who are harder to meet than the prime minister, commission the show season after season?

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
All in the family
THE WEEK India

All in the family

The Chitaras have been passing down the secret art of Mata Ni Pachedi through generations for more than 400 years now

time-read
6 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Raise a toast to Vidya Balan
THE WEEK India

Raise a toast to Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan is a New Year baby. At 45, she is aglow in the most beautiful way, having won the hearts and admiration of countless fans across the world, who watched the supremely talented actor take a public tumble on stage at a high-profile promotional event recently, sharing the platform with no less a dancer than the eternally graceful Madhuri Dixit.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Death no bar
THE WEEK India

Death no bar

Being alive is not a legal requirement to be elected president of the United States

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
The Lotus POTUS
THE WEEK India

The Lotus POTUS

You should visit us one of these days— there is so much excitement in our USA! No, I don’t mean the famous USA—the Ulhasnagar Sindhi Association of Mumbai.

time-read
3 dak  |
November 10, 2024
RAY OF HOPE
THE WEEK India

RAY OF HOPE

Actor and cancer survivor Lisa Ray talks to oncologist Dr Jame Abraham about inner strength and her surrogacy journey

time-read
5 dak  |
November 10, 2024
LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK
THE WEEK India

LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK

AT THE WEEK Health Summit, Siddharth Bagga, head (retail, CPG and health care), Google Cloud, elaborated on the significant work that Google has been doing in health care through artificial intelligence (AI).

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
PRESSURE POINTS
THE WEEK India

PRESSURE POINTS

Author and MP Shashi Tharoor and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das on how to find healing and meaning in today's world

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024