AP Governor receives ‘Victory Flame’ commemorating 50th anniversary celebrations of India’s victory in 1971 War

Vijayawada, September 08 (prajaamaravati): Andhra Pradesh Governor Sri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, received the ‘Victory Flame’ of Swarnim Vijay Varsh, commemorating the 50th anniversary celebrations of India’s victory in the 1971 war at a function held in Raj Bhavan lawns here on Wednesday. The ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ celebrations began with the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, lighting the Victory Flame on December 16, 2020, from the eternal flame of the National War Memorial in Delhi, signifying the bravery of the soldiers of the war. Since then the Victory Flame is travelling across the length and breadth of India.

The ‘Victory Flame’ of Swarnim Vijay Varsh was brought by INS Sumitra on behalf of Eastern Naval Command (ENC) from Port Blair to Visakhapatnam and reached here through Rajahmundry on Wednesday and it will be taken to Hyderabad through Nalgonda, on its next journey.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Sri Harichandan said that in December 1971, in one of the shortest wars in the history, lasting only for 13 days, the Indian Army secured a decisive and historic victory over Pakistan Army which led to the creation of a new nation ‘Bangladesh’ and the war ended after the Eastern Command of the Pakistan military signed the ‘Instrument of Surrender’ on December 16, 1971 in Dhaka. The entire country stood united and the then Leader of the Opposition Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, declared that irrespective of party considerations the entire nation should extend support to the then Prime Minister, as head of the nation during the war time. It was a glorious victory that resulted in the largest military surrender post World War-II, in which approximately 93,000 soldiers of the Pakistan Army surrendered to the Indian Army, said the Governor.

He said the emphatic victory of India in the 1971 war has immensely raised the stature of India amongst the comity of nations and saluted the Armed Forces personnel of Andhra Pradesh, who sacrificed their lives at the altar of duty for their valour and professionalism of the highest order and said that the nation owes a big debt to them.

Governor Sri Harichandan felicitated Smt. Majeerannisa, wife of Gunner Samiullabaig, Smt. Vahedunnisabi, wife of Spr. Sk. Jainullabdin, Smt. Khairunnisa, wife of Sep. Mohammed Omer, Smt. Arshunddunnisa, wife of Sep. Sk. Mahaboob, Smt. Venkayamma, wife of Naik Saidulu, War Widows, Capt. J. Vara Prasad Rao, Sep. M. Venkateswar Reddy, Spr. Lankga Nagur, Sep. M. Nageswara Rao, War Disabled and Hav. Tata Pothu Raju, Vir Chakra, Wig.Cdr. Pamidi Ramalingeswara Prasad Rao, Vayu Sena Medal, GNR Chintamaneni Syam Sundara Rao, Mention-in-Despatches, Gallantry Award Winners of the 1971 war, with a memento and a cash grant of Rs.10,000.

Sri Kumar Viswajeet, Principal Secretary, Home Department, Sri B. Srinivasulu, Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada, Commodore M. Goverdhan Raju, Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, Brigadier V. Venkat Reddy, VSM (Rtd.) Director of Sainik Welfare, Sri R.P. Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary to Governor, Captain V.S.C. Rao, Indian Navy, Sri L. Siva Sankar, Joint Collector, Krishna district and several defence officers and NCC Cadets have participated in the function.

***