Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora (Punjabi: ਜਗਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਰੋੜਾ; 13 February 1916 – 3 May 2005) was a Three-star General in the Indian Army. He was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern Command during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He led the ground forces campaign in the Eastern front of the war, which led to an overwhelming defeat of the Pakistan Army and the creation of Bangladesh.
The Liberation of Bangladesh
Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora was a tireless advocate of peaceful coexistence between India and Pakistan. He knew the cost of war, having led Indian forces to their most brilliant victory in any of the three main Indo-Pakistan wars, in 1947-49, 1965 and 1971. In the last of these conflicts, Aurora directed the Indian invasion of East Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh. The operation lasted just 13 days, and culminated in the public surrender of Pakistan's top commander in the east, Lieutenant General Amir "Tiger" Niazi. The picture that flashed around the world showed the glum Pakistani officer bowed over his signature. The turbaned figure beside him, showing not a scrap of elation, was Aurora.
Signing the Surrender Document
The Surrender of Pakistan Army
General Aurora had a mission in mind -- organizing the Mukti Bahini (the guerrilla force that fought against the Pakistan army in then East Pakistan) into a fighting unit. He instructed Major General Shabeg Singh to train Mukti Bahini, the Bangla resistance movement against the Pakistani occupation.
Major Gen. Shabeg Singh in Patka at the Surrender ceremony
Shabeg Singh risked his life and disguised himself as a Muktibahini leader and trained them on guerrilla warfare. Its unfortunate that corruption in Indian military leadership resulted in major General Shabeg Singh charged for using wood from his military bungalow for his daughter's wedding. Shabeg Singh was court marshaled on the order of General TPS Raina but the Supreme Court of India found him innocent of charges and reinstated his honor, only after he had died fighting his own Indian Army alongside Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Glum looking Pakistani General being escorted by General Aurora
On December 13, 1971 the United Nation Security Council was hotly debating the developments in then East Pakistan. The Americans came up with a proposal for a ceasefire and the Indian troop withdrawal. The Russians vetoed the proposal but they also told the Indian government that they would not exercise the right again. This created havoc at Army Headquarters. We had no time on our hands.
Gen. AAK Niazi greeting General Aurora
December 16, 1971 was a historic day. Lt. Gen Jacobs went to the airport to receive General Aurora. There was an entourage with him, which included his wife, and they drove straight to the racecourse where the surrender ceremony was organized. He was given a guard of honour by both Indian and Pakistani troops. There was a table with two chairs -- General Aurora sat on one side and General Niazi on the other.
The Surrender: Gen. Aurora and Gen Niazi
General Niazi signed the document without bothering to read it. He was in tears. The two men did not speak to each other. General Aurora signed the document on behalf of the Indian Army, accepting the surrender of 90,000 officers and men. The biggest surrender in history.
Bangladesh President Mujib with Gen. Aurora
Later that evening, after signing the surrender, Niazi handed over his revolver to Aurora and they shook hands. Soon after, Aurora was on the shoulders of the jubilant crowds chanting Joi Bangla (victory to Bengal). The crowds were becoming restless. They started shouting 'Joi Bangladesh' and 'Amar Sonar Bangla.' They rushed towards General Niazi to try and lynch him. We had a difficult time. Indian Army put General Niazi in a jeep and took him to a pre-arranged location where he was to be kept under detention.
Lt. General Jacobs who served in the Bangladesh war as junior to General Aurora, pays his respect, "General Aurora was a fine gentleman. A very fine soldier. I knew him from the time when he was at the staff college as an instructor. A physically tough and competent officer, he was liked by everybody. He had the great quality of being able to carry people with him. He was a thinker, a competent officer and someone very easy to work with"
A True Soldier
Much of the credit for the victory was given to the irrepressible Parsi army chief, General Sam Manekshaw, who was rewarded with a field marshal's baton. Indira Gandhi in her unique wisdom, chose to extend the term of General Sam Maneksaw by six months to ensure Lt. general Aurora retires before he could become the Chief of Indian Army. Aurora, an exemplar of the old school military manner, showed no sign of resentment, and Manekshaw, from the same tradition, paid him a short but eloquent posthumous tribute. "Jaggi did all the work and I got the baton," he said.
Gen. Aurora Recalling Cherished Memories
Lt-General (retd) Aurora choked up with emotion. "Governments may be ungrateful but the Indian public is very generous," he says. Even 25 years after the glorious victory in the Bangladesh war, the legend lives on. But the glory is tinged with bitterness. Bitterness over being slighted by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi; over Operation Blue Star; and over the November '84 riots.
He recalls an incident in New Delhi's insane traffic, it was a routine touch-and-go accident when an old couple's car hit a motorcyclist. A well-dressed Sikh stepped out to pacify the gathering crowd. "I am Jagjit Singh Aurora, and you may collect the repair charges from my house," he implored. " Woh Bangladesh wale? (Of Bangladesh fame?)" someone asked. Just a nod, and the crowd turned apologetic, berating the motorcyclist instead. Who turned repentant too.
My Personal Connection
General Aurora was my role model when I was a little kid. He was a close family member and related to my grandmother, Surjit Kaur. His sister was married to Arjan Singh Mama ji, the brother of my dad's Nani. My Bhoa later married his nephew and Mrs. Aurora performed the Anand Kaaraj ceremony herself.
Genral Aurora in Vimal Suitings Advertisement
He was suave, dashing and always approachable. In fact Vimal Suitings, the leading manufacturer of fabrics featured him in an advertisement as a debonair Sikh.
Saluting a War Hero
Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora breathed his last in May 3rd. 2005. His wife, Sardarni Bhagwant Kaur, died in 1997. He is survived by a son and a daughter.
General Aurora: War hero draped in national flag
After his military career was over, Aurora became a forceful advocate of the Sikh cause. He bitterly criticized the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, for authorizing Operation Bluestar, the bloody storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984.
He also participated in the Punjab group - a Delhi-based intellectual forum dedicated to the Punjab problem. But in the wake of Blue Star and the November '84 genocide, a deep sense of hurt pitted him against the Congress establishment." I did not lose my balance but was very upset," he says. After the riots, Aurora floated the Sikh Forum to seek justice for the riot victims. Two years later, he entered the upper house of the Indian parliament, the Rajya Sabha, as a member of the moderate Sikh party, Akali Dal. He served a six-year term, but never developed a taste for politics. "I was alone voice of dissent."
The Uniform of General Aurora at his Funeral
While many war veterans still take pride in displaying trophies of war, Aurora has already passed on the uniform he wore on the day of surrender to the Punjab Regiment, and Niazi's revolver to the Indian Military Academy. He had planned to bequeath Niazi's flag to his regiment. "My son is not interested in all these mementos" he says wryly. But the army certainly is. And the people too, who still remember Aurora - Bangladesh wale.
I appreciate this balanced recollection of my father's lief and work. He would appreciate it too, he was not given to overstating anything and admired people who kept their character and accomplishments in perspective, understood that the chance to serve was a great reward
Your comments made my day ... since childhood, I have looked up to the General as a true in life "Officer and a Gentleman". I am nephew of Pinki-Rakesh Gandotra.
Congress always betrayed Sikhs. I still have faith in Indian people who would realise the follies of congress and would honorably give sikhs their due.
Are you so certain ? It's in the Congress days that all these fine gentlemen rose to their pinnacles ! Just check the quality and numbers of Sikhs or even Hindus of quality in high office today ! You will understand the contrast !
winning a war & then behaving in most fitting disciplinary way by Indian army speaks high of training of our forces at Indian military academy and else where in most professional way. if civilians also manifest similar traits in daily routine, no body can stop India rising to the apex by 2050 but those who govern us must take the lead.
That was the class & stature of the General officer's which the IA misses today. The firmness of Sam, the vision & Magnanimity of Gen Aurora in protecting the safety & honour of the surrendered forces speaks volumes of respecting your en. A legacy which is carried out even today despite the mutilation of own captured officer's & men both by our adversories in North & western borders. Salute to those Veterans & proud of them for their legacy & values they imbibed & lived by. We are truly blessed to carry that mantle & swear by it. God Bless. Jai Hind Ki Sena.🙏👍
Punjabi Ignorance We, the Punjabis historically have not been documenting our own history. The Muslim Punjabis have almost forgotten their genetic ancestry and now try to connect their gene pool to the Arab aristocracy of Sayeds and Qureshis. The Pakistan government ignorantly names its missiles after the Islamic invaders who dispossessed their ancestors from their land. The Hindu Punjabis have written off their own ancestors, warriors kings, and Gurus and relate more to the Middle-India heroes such as Rama, Krishna, and Shivaji, The Sikhs have done a better job in staying connected to their roots but their historical reach is limited just to the Sikh period. Punjab history has to be taken as a whole, and that includes, Adivasis, Indus valley, Aryan Khatris, Kushans, Rajputs, Gujjars, Jatts, Islamic invaders, Sikh period, British rule, and the post independence era. Trinity of Punjabi Pride What's the Problem? So what? The results of this ignorance is astounding. We never
We all are familiar with Waris Shah (Urdu: السيد وارث علي شاه النقوي الرضوي البهكري البدراني) , ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ (Gurmukhi); 1722–1798) who was a Punjabi Sufi poet of Chishti order, renowned for his contribution to Punjabi literature by immortalizing the love story of Heer Ranjha . His poetic verse is a treasure-trove of Punjabi phrases, idioms and sayings. His minute and realistic depiction of the details of Punjabi life and political situation in the 18th century, remains unique and the entire poem is an album of colorful and enchanting pictures of life in the Punjab, deeply absorbing. Abdur Rehman Chugtai painting of Heer and Ranjha Waris Shah was deeply learned in Sufi and domestic cultural lore. His depiction of story of romantic love is a poetic expression of the mystical love of the human soul towards God – the quintessential subject in Sufism and a recurring theme in both Sufi and Sikh mysticism. The Legend Heer is an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy family
The Khalistan movement is a nationalist political liberation movement, which seeks to create a separate country called Khalistān (Punjabi: ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ, "The Land of the Pure") in the Punjab region of South Asia. But is this concept a reality or just figment of imagination? Imaginary Khalistan Map Background The Punjab region has been the traditional homeland for the Sikhs . Before its conquest by the British it was liberated by the Sikhs after centuries of rebellion against the oppressive Mughal rule. The region had been ruled by the Sikhs for almost 100 years. However, the region also has a substantial number of Hindus and Muslims. When the Muslim League demanded a separate country for Muslims via the Lahore Resolution of 1940, a section of Sikh leaders grew concerned that their community would be left without any homeland following the partition of India between the Hindus and the Muslims. They put forward the idea of Khalistan, envisaging it as a theocratic state cove
Nice compilation.
ReplyDeleteIndia salute its real heroes.
I appreciate this balanced recollection of my father's lief and work. He would appreciate it too, he was not given to overstating anything and admired people who kept their character and accomplishments in perspective, understood that the chance to serve was a great reward
ReplyDeleteYour comments made my day ... since childhood, I have looked up to the General as a true in life "Officer and a Gentleman". I am nephew of Pinki-Rakesh Gandotra.
DeleteGreat article.
ReplyDeleteShilpy’ Dad was there in Mukti Bahini as a young officer, while his Dad Lt Gen TS Oberoi was a close collogue of Gen Arora.
Well done.
Surprising, no reports on Gen. Jagjit Singh Arora's Dharna at India Gate in the late 1994, where I met him and had discussions for nearly 40 minutes.
ReplyDeletePlease share your experience with General Sahib and on the India Gate Dharna. Thanks!
DeleteGreat reading...he was trult a loyal soldier of India
ReplyDeleteExcellent article
ReplyDeleteBig Salute to our Vetran
ReplyDeleteI still feel why students are not taught about our War Heros
He should be a role model for Kids
God Bless him in Eternity
Congress always betrayed Sikhs. I still have faith in Indian people who would realise the follies of congress and would honorably give sikhs their due.
ReplyDeleteAre you so certain ? It's in the Congress days that all these fine gentlemen rose to their pinnacles !
ReplyDeleteJust check the quality and numbers of Sikhs or even Hindus of quality in high office today ! You will understand the contrast !
winning a war & then behaving in most fitting disciplinary way by Indian army speaks high of training of our forces at Indian military academy and else where in most professional way. if civilians also manifest similar traits in daily routine, no body can stop India rising to the apex by 2050 but those who govern us must take the lead.
ReplyDeleteCOLONEL NIRMAL MAHAJAN VETERAN GEN ARORA REAL HERO OF 1971 WAR
ReplyDeleteWe remain extremely proud of the great Indian Army, which was led by outstanding professionals. Jai Hind
ReplyDeleteGreat man lovely blog ..personal touch by author
ReplyDeleteExcellent article. A befitting tribute to the victorious General.
ReplyDeleteThat was the class & stature of the General officer's which the IA misses today. The firmness of Sam, the vision & Magnanimity of Gen Aurora in protecting the safety & honour of the surrendered forces speaks volumes of respecting your en. A legacy which is carried out even today despite the mutilation of own captured officer's & men both by our adversories in North & western borders. Salute to those Veterans & proud of them for their legacy & values they imbibed & lived by. We are truly blessed to carry that mantle & swear by it. God Bless. Jai Hind Ki Sena.🙏👍
ReplyDeleteMy dad was Lt in 71 war he was officer of 17 Sikh regiment
ReplyDelete