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{{Short description|Indian military officer (1916–2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
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| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]]
| honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]]
| image        = Gen. Niazi (Pakistan) surrenders to Gen. Jagit Singh Aurora (India).png
| image        = Gen. Niazi (Pakistan) surrenders to Gen. Jagit Singh Aurora (India).png
| caption      = Aurora (left) taking [[Pakistani Instrument of Surrender|Pakistani surrender]] in 1971
| caption      = Aurora (left) taking [[Pakistani Instrument of Surrender|Pakistani instrument of surrender]] in 1971
| birth_date    = {{birth date|df=yes|1916|2|13}}
| birth_date    = {{birth date|df=yes|1916|2|13}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|5|3|1916|2|13}}
| death_date    = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|5|3|1916|2|13}}
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| allegiance    = {{Flag|British India}}<br />{{Flag|India}}
| allegiance    = {{Flag|British India}}<br />{{Flag|India}}
| branch        = {{Army|British India}}<br />{{Army|India}}
| branch        = {{Army|British India}}<br />{{Army|India}}
| serviceyears  = 1939–1973
| serviceyears  = 1939-1973
| rank          = [[File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]
| rank          = [[File:Lieutenant General of the Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]
| servicenumber = IC-214<ref name="Gazette_India"/>
| servicenumber = IC-214<ref name="Gazette_India"/>
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| unit          = [[2nd Punjab Regiment]] (until 1947) <br /> [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] (after 1947)
| unit          = [[2nd Punjab Regiment]] (until 1947) <br /> [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] (after 1947)
| battles      = [[Burma Campaign]], [[World War II]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]] <br /> [[Sino-Indian War]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] <br> [[Nathu La and Cho La clashes]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| battles      = [[Burma Campaign]], [[World War II]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]] <br /> [[Sino-Indian War]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] <br> [[Nathu La and Cho La clashes]] <br /> [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| awards        = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] <br /> [[Padma Bhushan]]
| awards        = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] <br />[[Padma Bhushan]] <br /> [[Bir Protik]]
}}
}}
[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] '''Jagjit Singh Arora''' {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVSM}}<ref name="DCOAS"/> (also '''Jagjit Singh Aurora''')<ref name="Gazette_India"/><ref name="Indian_Army_List_47">{{cite book|pages=245–246|title=Indian Army List (Special Edition) 1947|publisher=Government of India Press|year=1947}}</ref><ref name="name" group="note">Both spellings are used in official documents; though "Aurora" predominates in the listings in the pre-Independence ''Indian Army List'', as do those in the ''[[Gazette of India]]''.</ref>  (13 February 1916<ref name="birthdate" group="note">As given in the pre-Independence ''Indian Army List''.</ref> – 3 May 2005) was an [[Indian Army]] [[General Officer]] who was the [[General Officer Commanding|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (GOC-in-C) [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|third war]] with Pakistan in 1971.
[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] '''Jagjit Singh Arora''' {{Post-nominals|country=IND|PVSM}}<ref name="DCOAS"/> (also '''Jagjit Singh Aurora''')<ref name="Gazette_India"/><ref name="Indian_Army_List_47">{{cite book|pages=245–246|title=Indian Army List (Special Edition) 1947|publisher=Government of India Press|year=1947}}</ref><ref name="name" group="note">Both spellings are used in official documents; though "Aurora" predominates in the listings in the pre-Independence ''Indian Army List'', as do those in the ''[[Gazette of India]]''.</ref>  (13 February 1916<ref name="birthdate" group="note">As given in the pre-Independence ''Indian Army List''.</ref> – 3 May 2005) was an [[Indian Army]] [[General Officer]] who was the [[General Officer Commanding|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (GOC-in-C) [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|third war]] with Pakistan in 1971.
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==Early life==
==Early life==
Jagjit Singh Aurora was born at [[Sikhs|Sikh]] [[khatri]] family in [[Kala Gujran]], [[Jhelum District]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]].<ref name="Modesty in victory">{{cite news |title=Modesty in victory |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050504/edit.htm#6|access-date=27 November 2016|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]] |agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |date=4 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518093219/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050504/edit.htm#6 |archive-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was the son of an engineer in Kala Gujran, Jhelum district.
Jagjit Singh Aurora was born to a [[Sikhs|Sikh]] [[Arora]] [[Khatri]] family in [[Kala Gujran]], [[Jhelum District]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]].<ref name="Modesty in victory">{{cite news |title=Modesty in victory |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050504/edit.htm#6|access-date=27 November 2016|work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]] |agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |date=4 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518093219/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050504/edit.htm#6 |archive-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was the son of an engineer.


==Army career==
==Army career==
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===East Pakistan===
===East Pakistan===
[[File:1971 Instrument of Surrender.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lt. Gen [[A. A. K. Niazi]], Commanding Officer of Pakistan Army forces in East Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender on 16 December 1971 in the presence of Lt. Gen. Arora]]
[[File:1971 Instrument of Surrender.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lt. Gen [[A. A. K. Niazi]], Commanding Officer of Pakistan Army forces in East Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender on 16 December 1971 in the presence of Lt. Gen. Arora]]
In March 1971, the [[Pakistan Army]] launched [[Operation Searchlight]] to curb the [[Bengali nationalism|Bengali nationalist movement]] in [[East Pakistan]]. The operation resulted in the [[1971 Bangladesh atrocities]], including the systematic murder of Bengali intellectuals by the Pakistan Army. The ensuing violence led to almost 10 million Bengali refugees fleeing from East Pakistan into India.  A spontaneous Bengali guerrilla force, the [[Mukti Bahini]], was formed in response. This force along with the newly formed [[Bangladesh Armed Forces#History|Bangladesh Forces]], consisting of Bengali defectors from the Pakistan Army under the command of Colonel (Retd) [[M. A. G. Osmani|Mohammad Ataul Ghani Osmani]], were engaged in escalating hostilities with the Pakistani Army.<ref>Raja, Dewan Mohammad Tasawwar, ''O GENERAL MY GENERAL (Life and Works of General M A G Osmany)'', p35-109, {{ISBN|978-984-8866-18-4}}</ref>
In March 1971, the [[Pakistan Army]] launched [[Operation Searchlight]] to curb the [[Bengali nationalism|Bengali nationalist movement]] in [[East Pakistan]]. The operation resulted in commencement of the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] which resulted in the [[1971 Bangladesh genocide|Bangladesh genocide]], including the systematic [[1971 killing of Bengali intellectuals|murder of Bengali intellectuals by the Pakistan Army]]. The ensuing violence led to almost 10 million Bengali refugees fleeing from East Pakistan into India.  A spontaneous Bengali guerrilla force, the [[Mukti Bahini]], was formed in response. This force along with the newly formed [[Bangladesh Armed Forces#History|Bangladesh Forces]], consisting of Bengali defectors from the Pakistan Army under the command of [[M. A. G. Osmani|General Bangabir MAG Osmani]], were engaged in escalating hostilities with the Pakistani Army.<ref>Raja, Dewan Mohammad Tasawwar, ''O GENERAL MY GENERAL (Life and Works of General M A G Osmany)'', p35-109, {{ISBN|978-984-8866-18-4}}</ref>


For the next eight months, with tensions escalating between India and Pakistan and anticipating possible hostilities, Aurora oversaw the logistical preparations of the Indian Army on the Eastern front, including the improvement of roads, communications and bridges, as well as the movement of 30,000 tons of supplies close to the border with East Pakistan.
For the next nine months, with tensions escalating between India and Pakistan and anticipating possible hostilities, Aurora oversaw the logistical preparations of the Indian Army on the Eastern front, including the improvement of roads, communications and bridges, as well as the movement of 30,000 tons of supplies close to the border with East Pakistan.


At the outbreak of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|war]] on 3 December 1971, as Eastern Army Commander, Gen. Aurora oversaw the Indian ground forces into battle in East Pakistan.  In a meticulously planned operation, forces under Aurora's command formed numerous small combat teams and launched a four-front attack with the strategy of confronting and defeating the Pakistani forces on selected fronts, while bypassing Pakistani forces on others. In under two weeks, his forces advanced from the Indian border to capture [[Dhaka]], the capital of East Pakistan.<ref name=guardian-obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/11/india.bangladesh |title=Obituary: Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora |publisher=guardian.co.uk |date= 11 May 2005|access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref>
At the outbreak of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|war]] on 3 December 1971, as Eastern Army Commander, Gen. Aurora oversaw the Indian ground forces into battle in East Pakistan.  In a meticulously planned operation, forces under Aurora's command formed numerous small combat teams and launched a four-front attack with the strategy of confronting and defeating the Pakistani forces on selected fronts, while bypassing Pakistani forces on others. In under two weeks, his forces advanced from the Indian border to capture [[Dhaka]], the capital of East Pakistan.<ref name=guardian-obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/11/india.bangladesh |title=Obituary: Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora |publisher=guardian.co.uk |date= 11 May 2005|access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref>


The [[Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan|Unified Commander of Pakistan Armed Forces's Eastern Military High Command]], Lieutenant General [[Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi]] was forced to sign an unconditional [[Instrument of Surrender (1971)|Instrument of Surrender]]. The photograph of Niazi and Aurora at the signing of the Instruments of Surrender became an iconic image of the war,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bangladesh honours Gen. Aurora|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/22/stories/2005052201860900.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129111400/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/22/stories/2005052201860900.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2014|access-date=21 November 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=22 May 2005}}</ref> with ''[[The Guardian]]'' describing the scene as "the glum Pakistani officer bowed over his signature. The turbaned figure beside him, showing not a scrap of elation".<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituary: Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/11/india.bangladesh|access-date=21 November 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 May 2005}}</ref> The 90,000 Pakistani troops under Niazi's command surrendered to Gen Aurora as [[prisoners of war]].<ref name=nyt-obit/> Pakistan lost almost {{convert|57000|sqmi|km2}} of its territory and 70 million of its people to the newly formed nation of Bangladesh.
The [[Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan|Unified Commander of Pakistan Armed Forces's Eastern Military High Command]], Lieutenant General [[Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi]] was forced to sign an unconditional [[Pakistani Instrument of Surrender|Instrument of Surrender]]. The photograph of Niazi and Aurora at the signing of the Instruments of Surrender became an iconic image of the war,<ref>{{cite news|title=Bangladesh honours Gen. Aurora|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/22/stories/2005052201860900.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129111400/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/22/stories/2005052201860900.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2014|access-date=21 November 2014|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=22 May 2005}}</ref> with ''[[The Guardian]]'' describing the scene as "the glum Pakistani officer bowed over his signature. The turbaned figure beside him, showing not a scrap of elation".<ref>{{cite news|title=Obituary: Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/11/india.bangladesh|access-date=21 November 2014|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 May 2005}}</ref> The 90,000 Pakistani troops under Niazi's command surrendered to Gen Aurora as [[prisoners of war]] in what remains to date the largest surrender of soldiers since the [[World War II|Second World War]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/the-bangladeshi-liberation-has-lessons-for-india-today/articleshow/88412623.cms|title=The Bangladeshi liberation has lessons for India today|date=2021-12-21|access-date=2021-12-29|website=[[The Times of India]]|last=Srinivasaraju|first=Sugata}}</ref><ref name=nyt-obit/> Pakistan lost almost {{convert|57000|sqmi|km2}} of its territory and 70 million of its people to the newly formed nation of Bangladesh.


==Later life==
==Later life==
Aurora was honoured with the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] and the [[Padma Bhushan]] for his role in the war.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref> He retired from the Indian Army in 1973. [[J. F. R. Jacob|Lt Gen JFR Jacob]] has written in his book ''An Odyssey in War And Peace'' that Gen. Aurora approached then Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] for governorship of a state but she declined.<ref name="An Odyssey in War and Peace">{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110508/jsp/7days/story_13954083.jsp= | title = Jake and I, we broke the Naxals | publisher = The Telegraph | access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> Jacob also writes that Gen Aurora and Mrs. Aurora were a regular part of the social life of Calcutta.<ref name="An Odyssey in War and Peace"/>
Aurora was honoured with the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]],  the [[Padma Bhushan]] and the [[Bir Protik]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-10 |title=Punjab Govt. to Confer Punjab 'Rattan Award' |url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/punjab-govt-confer-punjab-rattan-award |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=SikhNet |language=en}}</ref>  for his role in the war.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref> He retired from the Indian Army in 1973. [[J. F. R. Jacob|Lt Gen JFR Jacob]] has written in his book ''An Odyssey in War And Peace'' that Gen. Aurora approached then Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] for governorship of a state but she declined.<ref name="An Odyssey in War and Peace">{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110508/jsp/7days/story_13954083.jsp= | title = Jake and I, we broke the Naxals | publisher = The Telegraph | access-date=8 May 2011}}</ref> Jacob also writes that Gen Aurora and Mrs. Aurora were a regular part of the social life of Calcutta.<ref name="An Odyssey in War and Peace"/>


In 1984, Aurora  fiercely criticised the [[Indian National Congress]] leadership following [[Operation Blue Star]], which was an operation by the then government of flushing out armed Sikh militants who had taken up positions inside the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] in [[Amritsar]] but also caused extensive damage to the holiest shrine of Sikhism. Subsequently, he spent several years as a member of parliament in the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper House of the Indian Parliament, for the [[Akali Dal]], a political party.
In 1984, Aurora  fiercely criticised the [[Indian National Congress]] leadership following [[Operation Blue Star]], which was an operation by the then government of flushing out armed Sikh militants who had taken up positions inside the [[Harmandir Sahib|Golden Temple]] in [[Amritsar]] but also caused extensive damage to the holiest shrine of Sikhism. Subsequently, he spent several years as a member of parliament in the [[Rajya Sabha]], the upper House of the Indian Parliament, for the [[Akali Dal]], a political party.
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Jagjit Singh Aurora died on 3 May 2005, at age 89, in New Delhi.<ref name=toi-notice>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-05-03/india/27837229_1_army-officer-eastern-army-command-goc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025901/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-05-03/india/27837229_1_army-officer-eastern-army-command-goc |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2011 |title=1971 war hero Lt General J S Aurora dead |date= 3 May 2005|work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> He was survived by a son and a daughter. After his death, the gratitude of Bangladesh to General Aurora was emphasized in a message to India, from [[Morshed Khan]], the Bangladeshi [[Foreign Minister]], stating: ''"Aurora will be remembered in the history of Bangladesh for his contribution during our war of liberation in 1971, when he led the allied forces."''
Jagjit Singh Aurora died on 3 May 2005, at age 89, in New Delhi.<ref name=toi-notice>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-05-03/india/27837229_1_army-officer-eastern-army-command-goc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025901/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-05-03/india/27837229_1_army-officer-eastern-army-command-goc |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2011 |title=1971 war hero Lt General J S Aurora dead |date= 3 May 2005|work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> He was survived by a son and a daughter. After his death, the gratitude of Bangladesh to General Aurora was emphasized in a message to India, from [[Morshed Khan]], the Bangladeshi [[Foreign Minister]], stating: ''"Aurora will be remembered in the history of Bangladesh for his contribution during our war of liberation in 1971, when he led the allied forces."''


The site of the Pakistani surrender, where Lt. Gen. Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender with Lt. Gen. Aurora on 16 December 1971 is being converted into what will be called '''Independence Square'''. The plans include the installation of an ''eternal flame''.
The site of the Pakistani surrender, where Lt. Gen. Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender with Lt. Gen. Aurora on 16 December 1971 has been converted into a national monument [[Swadhinata Stambha]]. The main attraction is the glass Stambha which is built on the precise location where the instrument of surrender was signed. The monument also includes an [[eternal flame]], terracotta murals of martyrs and a body of water.


==Dates of rank==
==Dates of rank==
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