DSRS JU organizes a lecture “The 1971 War: Re-examining the Largest Military Surrender after the World War-Il”

The Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS), University of Jammu today organized a Special Lecture, titled “The 1971 War: Re-examining the Largest Military Surrender after the World War-Il” in memory of nation-builders who sacrificed their lives during the freedom movement of India in the seminar hall of the DSRS.

            The lecture started by lightening the lamp and paying tribute to the Bharat Mata by the Chief Guest, Major General (retd.) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal AVSM, Guest of Honour, Brigadier (retd.) Vijay Sagar Dheman, Prof. Virender Koundal, and other dignitaries. Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal, formally welcomed the Chief Guest, Gen. Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, Guest of Honour, Brig. Vijay Sagar Dheman, and other dignitaries and introduced the theme of the lecture on Martyrs’ Day.

             Gen. Goverdhan Singh Jamwal presided over the inaugural session. Brigadier Dheman delivered the special lecture on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day. Brigadier Dheman while emphasising the contribution of individuals to safeguard the freedom of the nation with their varied sacrifices can be called as “hero and martyrs of the nation”. He contextualized the Initial wars of India with Pakistan and China that eventually drew India to the 1971 War with Pakistan over East Pakistan. This war was concluded with the surrender of 93,000 soldiers of Pakistan under the command Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Nayazi. He further said, “The Indian government opened the Indian border to allow the Bengali refugees to find safe shelter; the governments of West Bengal and Bihar established refugee camps along the border. This resulted in a flood of impoverished East Pakistani refugees strained India’s already overburdened economy and provided India an opportunity to train the Mukti Vahini to initiate the Guerrilla War against the Pakistani forces.”

            In his presidential remarks Maj. Gen. Goverdhan Singh Jamwal discussed the mistakes committed in the past which are required to present the real version of history in contemporary times. He stressed that J&K’s contribution to the freedom struggle and India’s defence and security must be recorded, taught, and researched appropriately and adequately in academics. To elaborate on this, Gen. Jamwal maintained, “incomplete and wrong historical facts always pose a threat to the existence of communities and nations, therefore histories must be accurate, complete and inclusive”.

            After this, Director DSRS Prof. Virender Koundal gave concluding remarks and graced the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour by presenting them with his book Swantratra Sangram Mein Jammu-Kashmir Ka Yogdhan in gratitude. Faculty of the DSRS Dr. Mohd. Monir Alam, Dr. Suneel Kumar, Dr. Surinder Mohan, Dr. Ganesh Malhotra, Dr. Ranjan Sharma, Shri. Devinder Kahluria, Riya Kahluria, Dikha Kahluria, Sh. Ashok Sharma Vashisht, Sh. Arun Prabhat Jamwal, Sh. Luv Sharma, Sh. Rakesh Gupta and many eminent academicians, journalists, members of civil society, research scholars, and PG students of Semester I and -III have attended and participated in the seminar. Dr. Ganesh Malhotra conducted the proceedings of the seminar gracefully. Finally, Dr. Mohd. Monir Alam presented the vote of thanks.