• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Authors
  • Contact Us

The Punjab Pulse

Centre for Socio-Cultural Studies

  • Areas of Study
    • Social & Cultural Studies
    • Religious Studies
    • Governance & Politics
    • National Perspectives
    • International Perspectives
    • Communism
  • Activities
    • Conferences & Seminars
    • Discussions
  • News
  • Resources
    • Books & Publications
    • Book Reviews
  • Icons of Punjab
  • Videos
  • Academics
  • Agriculture
You are here: Home / Areas of Study / Social & Cultural Studies / This untold story of Indo-Pakistan War 1971 will fill you with pride

This untold story of Indo-Pakistan War 1971 will fill you with pride

October 22, 2020 By Guest Author

Share

Bhagyashree Pancholy

India has actively engaged in four wars with Pakistan – 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999 Kargil War. Of all the wars fought between the two nations, perhaps the most famous has been that of Indo-Pak war of 1971 that not only led to the creation of Bangladesh, but saw the biggest surrender of an enemy army in near history.

There are innumerable accounts of the war, but what many people do not know is that the war does not end at ceasefire. When you have a restless enemy like Pakistan, who has also lost miserably, the enemy nation tends to violate the ceasefire and aggressively tries to recapture the lost territories.

This is precisely what happened which led to Major Sujeet Kumar Pancholy getting gravely injured.

Major Sujeet Kumar Pancholy joined the most decorated Sikh Regiment of Indian Army in 1968 and was asked to join the invincible 9th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment. He joined the battalion at Amritsar in 1968 and soon during the summer of 1969, they were moved to Tangdhar, an area located around 200 kms N.N.W of Srinagar.

Year 1971 and beyond in the words of Major Pancholy himself

In March 1971, I was ordered to move to operational heights along the LoC at 12,000 feet. This was the time when Mukti Vahini was at peak of its operations in erstwhile East Pakistan and the dark clouds of a war were looming around. In no time, Operation Cactus-Lilly, the code name for 1971 war, began.

It was anticipated that Pakistan will attack India on September 3, 1971 with main armour thrust in Jammu & Kashmir. However, they attacked on December 3, 1971.

During the declared war time of December 3 to December 17, 1971, I along with my brave troops were asked to capture Thanda Pani, Narian heights, Kaiyan and another post which was later renamed as Three Pimples across Tutmari Gali in Lipa valley. Lipa valley had been a favourite route for infiltrators during the 1947 and 1965 war. In December, this area appears like a starving lion awaiting its prey with 20 inches of snow and temperatures reaching as low as -30 degrees.

But, that wasn’t the difficult part. Since the mountains have no tracks, careful and silent movement in soft snow becomes arduous. What was worse was the hanging threat of stepping onto stray mines laid during the earlier wars, avalanches and falling into crevasses.

On December 6, 1971, my troops and I had successfully captured the enemy township of Naukot in PoK and were 13 kms, as the crow flies away from the capital of PoK called Muzaffarabad. Because of the paucity of resources and no communication line, we had no artillery support.

With no artillery support and communication, we adopted the German tactics of infiltration based on the concept of “recce pull” and “surfaces and gaps”.

After the ceasefire in December 1971, the international hostilities ended but the lack of an international border created another hurdle. Since my troops and I had captured an area beyond CFL (Cease Fire Line), there was no let up in war. New LoC demarcation was not in sight as it needs a prolonged agreement which could take up to a year.

Until then, we were ordered to probe and occupy the area as much as possible with Pakistan insisting that wherever Indians are not sitting, as its territory.

So without the benefit of war effort, while rest of the country and the armed forces were rejoicing at the unique historical victory that saw the formation of Bangladesh and surrender of the largest number of troops in Kashmir, my men and I were still at war. Operation Cactus-Lilly was still on.

In May 1972, five months since, we were still at war and trying to hold onto the captured posts while the nation thanked Mrs. Gandhi for the end of the war, Pakistan taking advantage of ceasefire had amassed troops on CFL. This gigantic move by the Pakistan did not garner much attention from the government at the centre. The aim was to dislodge Indian troops and recapture the vital post of Three Pimples and the township of Naukot.

Finally, Pakistan attacked us on May 3, 1972 at wee hours in the morning. With 86 fearless men, I fought till May 4, 1972. But that same day, Pakistan brought in a brigade i.e. roughly 1400 men by helicopters and launched the fiercest attack during the night of May 4.

The Indian Government had still not woken up, and 86 of us had to fight with limited ammunition and depleting resources. As luck would have it, on the 5th morning, Pakistan recaptured the post.

In the last effort to save our motherland, we indulged in hand to hand combat for every inch of the ground.

During a ferocious combat, I managed to kill two enemy men with my hand dagger before being hit by a Pakistani grenade.

Although I had lost much of my men and was critically injured, I later learnt that my men had killed Lt.Col. Haq Nawaz Kayani, the Commanding Officer of 9th Azad Kashmir Battalion.

The post was finally overrun by the Pakistanis

I was dragged out of the snow by two valiant men of my unit and was slided down on a makeshift stretcher made of wood and turban of the Sikh men.

Out of the 86 who fought, only a handful of us came out of the battlefield alive. To this day, I am nothing but immensely proud of the men I commanded and will eternally remain grateful to them.

The help came in after three days of hiding in the enemy territory. I was shifted to Srinagar on the fourth day after surviving on first aid.

It is another story how I survived. From the battlefield to artillery bombardment, unattended in snow, presumed dead, almost put up on burning pyre, refused further evacuation and making the final journey to the hospital in Srinagar.

I was hospitalised for three years and underwent five major surgeries. On 16th December 1974, I was boarded out of the Army as a proud BATTLE CASUALTY due to the injuries sustained in war. With several internal organs missing, I was honoured with coveted War Wound Medal, War Relief Medal, Sangram Medal, Western Area War Star Medal (Pashcimi Star), Samar Seva Medal and High Altitude Service Medal.

One may wonder as to why have I come up with this story now? Well, the answer lies in the lack of awareness in the media and the government’s sheer denial of any such conflict happening.

However, our story does survive in artefacts and in brief at the army’s museum at Naugam in Kashmir. We can also be found hanging onto the walls at Sikh regimental centre at Ramgarh.

While the Indian government has dutifully turned its back to us, our actions do find mention in the Pakistani army archives.

As I end it today, I wish to say this for my Sikh men, “So valiant in war, so gallant in victory, but they are ever so merciful.”

“Jo Bole So Nihaal, Sat Sri Akal”- the war cry of Sikh men.

***

Note: Major Pancholy lost his final battle to cancer in the year 2011. The injuries sustained during the war had turned malignant. Vijay Diwas is celebrated on December 16. He was boarded out on December 16. He was cremated on December 16, 2011.

First Published in : https://topyaps.com/soldiers-account-of-1971-war/


Share
test

Filed Under: Social & Cultural Studies, Stories & Articles Tagged With: CFL, Naukot, Operation Cactus Lily

Primary Sidebar

News

Cleanliness campaign by judges & lawyers

February 7, 2023 By News Bureau

Of self-styled pastors & false promises

February 7, 2023 By News Bureau

ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਕਲੀਨਿਕਾਂ ’ਚ ਮਾੜੇ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਾਂ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਰੋਸ

February 7, 2023 By News Bureau

ਅਧਿਆਪਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਤਨਖ਼ਾਹ ਦਾ ਮਾਮਲਾ ਭਖਿਆ

February 7, 2023 By News Bureau

ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡਣਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ ਹਰਿਆਣਾ ਦੇ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧ

February 7, 2023 By News Bureau

Areas of Study

  • Governance & Politics
  • International Perspectives
  • National Perspectives
  • Social & Cultural Studies
  • Religious Studies

Featured Article

The actual message and etymology of Sri Guru Granth Sahib needs to be preserved

January 31, 2023 By Guest Author

Dr. Rajinder Pal Singh Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the eternal living Guru continues to inspire mankind and provide guidance for God realisation and truthful living. It contains the teachings of the Sikh Gurus as well as of Hindu and Muslim saints. Eternal wisdom flows from its teachings which are recited and sung with intense devotion […]

Academics

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-10 – भाग-11

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-10 विजयी सैन्य शक्ति के प्रतीक ‘पांच प्यारे’ और पांच ‘ककार’ नरेंद्र सहगल श्रीगुरु गोविंदसिंह द्वारा स्थापित ‘खालसा पंथ’ किसी एक प्रांत, जाति या भाषा का दल अथवा पंथ नहीं था। यह तो संपूर्ण भारत एवं भारतीयता के सुरक्षा कवच के रूप में तैयार की गई खालसा फौज […]

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-8 – भाग-9

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-8 अमृत शक्ति-पुत्रों का वीरव्रति सैन्य संगठन नरेंद्र सहगल संपूर्ण भारत को ‘दारुल इस्लाम’ इस्लामिक मुल्क बनाने के उद्देश्य से मुगल शासकों द्वारा किए गए और किए जा रहे घोर अत्याचारों को देखकर दशम् गुरु श्रीगुरु गोविंदसिंह ने सोए हुए हिंदू समाज में क्षात्रधर्म का जाग्रण करके एक […]

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-6 – भाग-7

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-6 श्रीगुरु गोबिन्दसिंह का जीवनोद्देश्य धर्म की स्थापना, अधर्म का नाश नरेंद्र सहगल ‘हिन्द दी चादर’ अर्थात भारतवर्ष का सुरक्षा कवच सिख साम्प्रदाय के नवम् गुरु श्रीगुरु तेगबहादुर ने हिन्दुत्व अर्थात भारतीय जीवन पद्यति, सांस्कृतिक धरोहर एवं स्वधर्म की रक्षा के लिए अपना बलिदान देकर मुगलिया दहशतगर्दी को […]

Twitter Feed

The Punjab Pulse Follow

The Punjab Pulse is an independent, non-partisan think tank engaged in research and in-depth study of all aspects the impact the state of Punjab and Punjabis

ThePunjabPulse
Retweet on Twitter The Punjab Pulse Retweeted
mediaharshvt हर्ष वर्धन त्रिपाठी 🇮🇳Harsh Vardhan Tripathi @mediaharshvt ·
5h

गजब https://twitter.com/ahmedalifayyaz/status/1622545847832674304

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz @ahmedalifayyaz

The U-turn at Shopian, #Kashmir today.

Reply on Twitter 1622858527273541634 Retweet on Twitter 1622858527273541634 49 Like on Twitter 1622858527273541634 270 Twitter 1622858527273541634
Retweet on Twitter The Punjab Pulse Retweeted
ganeshs38500793 Ganesh Suthar @ganeshs38500793 ·
17h

_कांग्रेस आ जाए तो शायद पाकिस्तान का कुछ भला हो जाए, इस लिए कि मोदी जी ने हमें कोई टका नहीं देना_

Pak likes loves and lives with Congress.

Reply on Twitter 1622665243519483906 Retweet on Twitter 1622665243519483906 40 Like on Twitter 1622665243519483906 76 Twitter 1622665243519483906
Retweet on Twitter The Punjab Pulse Retweeted
mediaharshvt हर्ष वर्धन त्रिपाठी 🇮🇳Harsh Vardhan Tripathi @mediaharshvt ·
4h

तलवार की मर्यादा भंग कर दी। ऐसे लोगों को तलवार रखने की इजाजत नहीं मिलनी चाहिए। शर्मनाक https://twitter.com/shobhnayadava/status/1622870312881905664

Shobhna Yadav @ShobhnaYadava

पंजाब के गुरदासपुर में स्कूल बस के नीचे आने से कुत्ते की मौत हो गई तो कुत्ते का मालिक तलवार और लाठियाँ लेकर स्कूल बस को रोके खड़ा है। मासूम बच्चे बस में रोते दिखाई दे रहे हैं। क़ानून का डर पंजाब में शायद बस नाम मात्र ही शेष है।

Reply on Twitter 1622872007921770496 Retweet on Twitter 1622872007921770496 97 Like on Twitter 1622872007921770496 303 Twitter 1622872007921770496
Load More

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Signup to receive regular updates and to hear what's going on with us.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

TAGS

Academics Activities Agriculture Areas of Study Books & Publications Communism Conferences & Seminars Discussions Governance & Politics Icons of Punjab International Perspectives National Perspectives News Religious Studies Resources Social & Cultural Studies Stories & Articles Uncategorized Videos

Footer

About Us

The Punjab Pulse is an independent, non-partisan think tank engaged in research and in-depth study of all aspects the impact the state of Punjab and Punjabis at large. It strives to provide a platform for a wide ranging dialogue that promotes the interest of the state and its peoples.

Read more

Follow Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · The Punjab Pulse

Developed by Web Apps Interactive