Mumbai: The 1971 war between India and Pakistan was a pivotal point in world history, resulting in the formation of a new country, Bangladesh. Celebrating the golden jubilee of this glorious victory of India, Times Chronicles, the content studio from Times Network that produces originals, real and gripping stories, launches ‘1971 Birth of a Nation’, a special documentary series that will unravel an extraordinary tale of a revolutionary battle led by India post-independence. Honoring the valour and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who fought the 1971 war, the well-researched 7-part authoritative docu-series will air from this Saturday, November 27, 2021, on TIMES NOW & TIMES NOW WORLD at 6 pm and Mirror NOW at 7:30 pm.
The 13-day military conflict is one of the shortest wars in history and it ended with a decisive win for India. Narrating the gripping story of India’s strategic diplomacy and military capabilities, the documentary explores the reason behind the genocide in East Pakistan and the political history behind the birth of a new country Bangladesh. The series also brings a comprehensive account of the political tussles that led to India overthrowing Pakistan, what caused friction between east & west Pakistan, how the political diplomacy of Indira Gandhi prove ingenious in the period leading to the war, role of MI, IB & RAW in the 1971 war, operation searchlight & Dhaka University massacre and significance of India’s intervention in the matters of east & west Pakistan.
Offering a glimpse into the mindsets and emotions of the times, the series will feature first-person accounts and anecdotes of senior officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Airforce and brings together government officials, historians, journalists, victims of the 1971 war, Bangladesh – Mukti Joddhas, who were in the thick of the action at the time. This includes Probal Dasgupta – Author: Watershed 1967: India’s Forgotten Victory Over China, Historian & Army veteran, Ratna Biswas – 1971 survivor, Meghna Guhathakurta – 1971 survivor & Executive Director, Research Initiatives, Bangladesh, Lieutenant General Depinder Singh (Retd) – Assistant to Sam Manekshaw from 1969 to 1973 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Colonel MS Joon, who played a key role in training the Mukti Bahini in 1971, Jayanta Sanyal – Former Indian Bureaucrat, Chandrashekhar Dasgupta – Former Indian ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and China, Lt Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir (Retd) – Mukti Joddha, Nitin A. Gokhale – National Security Analyst & Author and Maroof Raza – Consulting Editor, Times Network amongst others.
Culled from the archival reels gathered from the Films Division of India, the series visually recreates the historic scenarios and circumstances by capturing actual locations of the battles, war memorials, unseen footage, and pictures of the wars, making it essential viewing for every Indian citizen to understand and learn the military history of the nation.
