Remembering 1971 at Kolkata during Bangladesh Liberation 1971

It was 50 years back, I was a college student,

 appeared B.Sc final examination of the University of Calcutta, an NCC Cadet of Army Wing. We few active NCC Cadets of Kolkata formed an NGO for persuasion of adventure. We were manning 7x24 hrs our civil Defence Casualty service. We planned our first rock climbing training program at Sushunia Hill, Bankura district when the war was declared. We were mentally disturbed about our rock climbing training program.  All India Radio was main source of our information apart from daily newspapers. We heard the cease-fire declaration. I was spending some time at the Indian Red Cross Society (West Bengal), Disaster Training Institute at Gokul Boral Street of Central Kolkata. It was a two-storied building, one day I found plasma was stacked on the ground floor without any temperature control system in an open space. This was relief material received from foreign countries.

Surrender ceremony of Pakistani Army at Dhaka on 16th December 1971

We had our first Rock Climbing Course as per schedule. We had invited General Officer Commanding of Bengal Area, Major General Pemenshu Chowdury, PVSM,  to be our Guest in Chief  of distribution of certificates to the trainees of this course.  He accepted our request and program was held at BNR ( South Eastern Railway) Tent of Kolkata Maidan.

Vijaya Diwas Memorial service held at Kolkata on 16th December 2016 (.From Lt to Rt)  Lt General Parveen Bakshi, AVSM, VSM, ADC, GOC-in-C, EC, Vice Admiral Harish Bisht, FOC-in-C, ENC & Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, VM, VSM,, AOC -in-C EAC

In 1983,  I was doing annual training camp of Territorial  Army, we went to Bengdubi, North Bengal, I saw the cemented platforms of EPIP tents where the prison of the war of the Pakistani Army were kept. I visited Bangladesh by road in 1987 only at Dacca and again in 1997 this time Dacca and Sylhet. I have friends who are amateur wireless operators. I inspired Bangladesh youths to start adventure activities in their own way, they can visit the Himalayas which will inspire them mountain adventure. Bangladesh Army started this activity.

An  Artillery unit, 90 Field Regiment  of Indian Army who took part Cactus Lily  they captured some of the souvenirs from then East Pakistan, those are

Insignia of Pakistan Navy

Foundation stone of Chittagaon Naval Base

At the left Lt Gen ( then Lt Col) V P Gupta (Retd) Commanding Officer of 90 Field Regiment

Artillery Gun captured during Operation Cactus Lily of 1971