Jmu’s Balidan Stambh to host grand celebration of ‘Vijay Diwas’ on Dec 16
For the first time since built, Jammu’s BalidanStambh likely to host grand celebrations of ‘Vijay Diwas’ on December 16 with Lieutenant General Nav K Khanduri, General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) of Army’s Western Command and over 4000 veterans and veer naris will grace the occasion.
The first of its kind event is being organize by Yol based 9 Corps (Rising Star Corps), which overlooks the security situation of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts besides strategic assets in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
As per officials, two event planned at BalidanStambh, Jammu and Zorawar Stadium, Sunjuwan wherein a large number of senior officers from Indian Army, police, border security forces (BSF) and civil administration along with serving soldiers, nearly 4000 veterans, and veer naris will grace the occasion.
“Lt Gen Nav K Khanduri, GOC-in-C Western Command will be the chief guest and lay a ceremonial wreath at BalidanStambh, before commencing the celebrations. A grand rally is planned at Zorawar Stadium, Sunjuwan wherein is participation of over 4000 veteran is expected followed by light and sound show in the evening at BalidanStambh,” he said.
The officer added that this is first of its kind event in Jammu adding, “Similar events are planned at unit and sector level across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and other formations in the country ”.
BalidanStambh, a unique war memorial at Bahu WaliRakh. Conceived in the year 2005, located on the way to Bahu Fort, construction started in 2008 and was inaugurated in the year 2009. Eternal flame ‘Amar Jyot’ symbolising the ‘battle casualty soldiers’ is there to pay tribute to all fallen heroes, who were killed in different operations held in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947.
Like many other monumental projects of Jammu this BalidanStambh raised at a cost of sixteen crores by the Army is now in total ruins. Once conceived to be a tourism spinner for Jammu now waits for few visitors daily who are greeted now by barbed wires and locked gates, a whole company of Jammu and Kashmir police is permanently stationed here, but unable to protect it from thieves. This is the first of its kind event at BalidanStambh since it was built.
Pertinently, every year, India celebrates Vijay Diwas on December 16 every year as a tribute to the success of the Indian army. This war led to the creation of Bangladesh. After India’s independence, Pakistan was formed in two territories, East and West Pakistan.
The Bengalis in the east were highly discriminated and their Bengali language wasn’t accepted.
There were economic disparities between the two regions, and the power helmed by West Pakistan had created tensions. In 1970, the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won the elections wherein the Pakistan People’s Party neglected to hand over the power.
Later in mid 1971, Bangladesh declared independence from Pakistan. As violence started erupting, many refugees began entering India.
The war between India and Pakistan started when Pakistan launched air strikes on 11 Indian air bases. In retaliation to this attack, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to launch a war against Pakistan, which India won after fighting for 13 days, resulting in the birth of Bangladesh.
Pakistan surrendered to the Indian army finally and this day is also observed as ‘Bijoy Dibos’ in Bangladesh.
