Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district Ex-Servicemen’s Association in collaboration with Lions Club International District 317 D, Rotary Internatioal District 3181, Nitte Education Trust and Shri Shasthavu Bhoothanatheshwara Temple Trust organised ‘Vijay Diwas’ programme, to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the Indo-Pak war of 1971 at the War Memorial in Kadri Hills on Sunday, December 16.
The guest at the programme laid wreaths on the war memorial and symbolically paid respects to those brave soldiers who fought for the country and laid down their lives.
N S Bhandary, former president of Ex-Servicemen’s Association giving a brief note on the ‘Vijay diwas’ said, ” it is an annual programme to commemorate the day- 16th December 1971, when 13-day war ended with Pakistan forces, numbering over 93,000 surrendering to Indian army at Ramna Race Course in Dhaka. This created a new history and paved way to the formation of an independent country, Bangladesh. However, due to the war, India also suffered with as many as 1426 soldiers in the Indian army sacrificing their lives and 3,611 injured. The casualties were more in Pakistan army as 8000 were killed and over 10,000 were wounded“, he said.
Brigadier I N Rai, who fought against Pakistan in the Indo-Pak war in 1971 recalled the sacrifice of his fellow members. ” I had shared my lunch with two of my roommates H P Nair and Karamchand Singh on the fateful day of December 11, 1971. But, the next morning, I came to know that they sacrificed their lives for our country. It is our duty to remember their sacrifice every year. Along with this, we need to extend our possible help towards the family members of martyrs”, he said.
Meanwhile, he announced the names of two elderly persons Subbaiah A Shetty and Raveendra Alva who donated a cash of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh for the welfare of the family members of martyrs.
Dakshina Kannada District Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil informed that along with fighting against the external forces, we need to fight against the internal forces which always divide us in the name of caste and religion. We should not fight with ourselves, but we must unite to face the challenges of external forces”, he said.
Former MLC Captain Ganesh Karnik, Commissioner of Police R R Suresh, DK District Superintendent of Police Dr. B R Ravikanthe Gowda, Indian Coast Guard Commander Surendra Singh Dasila T M among others spoke on the occasion.
Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer, DK Zilla Panchayat CEO Selvamani R, Lions District Governor K Devadas Bhandary, NCC Group Commander Col Anil Nautyal among others were present.
