Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora

So innovative was his operational planning and so meticulous its execution that Lt-Gen J.S. Aurora did not forsake his daily round of golf even once during the 12-day (13-day) battle to ‘liberate’ East Pakistan…+

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.

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.

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. Indian Army put General Niazi in a jeep and took him to a pre-arranged location where he was to be kept under detention.

‘All my life, I have felt proud of this achievement. I feel good that it is the people of India who won this victory. I retired from the Indian army in 1973 at the age of 56. And I feel proud that I won a war before I retired.’ He said.

He was choked up with emotion “Governments may be ungrateful but the Indian public is very generous,".

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? someone asked. Just a nod, and the crowd turned apologetic, berating the motorcyclist instead. Who turned repentant too.+

While many war veterans still take pride in displaying trophies of war, Aurora 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.