Bharatpedia

Jagjit Singh Aurora: Difference between revisions

Article Talk

Jagjit Singh Aurora (edit)

Revision as of 21:54, 25 September 2022

99 bytes added ,  25 September 2022
robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
(robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit))
(robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Indian military officer (1916–2005)}}
{{Short description|Indian military officer (1916–2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]
| honorific_prefix = [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]]
Line 24: Line 24:
[[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.


He organised and led the ground forces campaign in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Eastern Front]] of the war, which led to an overwhelming defeat of the combined [[Pakistan Armed Forces]] [[Eastern Command (Pakistan)|in East-Pakistan]] that led to the creation of [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="br-homage">{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Personnel/Legends/170-JS-Arora.html|title=Homage to a Hero: Lt Gen J. S. Arora|date=17 June 2005|publisher=Frontline|access-date=24 July 2011}}</ref>
He organised and led the ground forces campaign in the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|Eastern Front]] of the war, which led to an overwhelming defeat of the combined [[Pakistan Armed Forces]] [[Eastern Command (Pakistan)|in East-Pakistan]] that led to the creation of [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="br-homage">{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Personnel/Legends/170-JS-Arora.html|title=Homage to a Hero: Lt Gen J. S. Arora|date=17 June 2005|publisher=Frontline|access-date=24 July 2022}}</ref>


As the General commanding the Indian and Bangladesh Forces in the Eastern theater, Gen Aurora received the surrender from the Governor of [[East Pakistan]] and Commander of the Eastern Command of the [[Pakistan Army]], Lt Gen [[A. A. K. Niazi]].
As the General commanding the Indian and Bangladesh Forces in the Eastern theater, Gen Aurora received the surrender from the Governor of [[East Pakistan]] and Commander of the Eastern Command of the [[Pakistan Army]], Lt Gen [[A. A. K. Niazi]].
Line 34: Line 34:


==Army career==
==Army career==
Aurora graduated from the [[Indian Military Academy]] in 1939 and was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, [[2nd Punjab Regiment]] on 1 February.<ref name="Indian_Army_List_47"/> He saw action in the [[Burma Campaign]] during World War II.<ref name=nyt-obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/06/obituaries/06aurora.html |title=Jagjit Singh Aurora, 89, Indian War Hero, Is Dead |work=The New York Times |date= 6 May 2005|access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref>
Aurora graduated from the [[Indian Military Academy]] in 1939 and was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, [[2nd Punjab Regiment]] on 1 February.<ref name="Indian_Army_List_47"/> He saw action in the [[Burma Campaign]] during World War II.<ref name=nyt-obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/06/obituaries/06aurora.html |title=Jagjit Singh Aurora, 89, Indian War Hero, Is Dead |work=The New York Times |date= 6 May 2005|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref>


After [[independence of India|Independence]] and the ensuing [[Partition of India]], he opted to join the [[Indian Army]] and was a commissioned officer in the [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].<ref name=ia-punjabregiment>{{cite web | url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=CVpxJM4HyDk=&ParentID=VBMAob67zU4= | title = Punjab Regiment: Colonels of the Regiment | publisher = Indian Army | access-date=24 July 2011}}</ref> On 3 February 1957, he was promoted acting [[Brigadier]] and given command of an infantry brigade.<ref name="brigade">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=76  |date=30 March 1957 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>
After [[independence of India|Independence]] and the ensuing [[Partition of India]], he opted to join the [[Indian Army]] and was a commissioned officer in the [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]].<ref name=ia-punjabregiment>{{cite web | url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmPhotoGalleryWithMenuWithTitle.aspx?MnId=CVpxJM4HyDk=&ParentID=VBMAob67zU4= | title = Punjab Regiment: Colonels of the Regiment | publisher = Indian Army | access-date=24 July 2022}}</ref> On 3 February 1957, he was promoted acting [[Brigadier]] and given command of an infantry brigade.<ref name="brigade">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=76  |date=30 March 1957 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref>


In May 1961, as BGS [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]], Brigadier Arora led a team of military officers and men sent by the [[Government of India]] on a [[reconnaissance]] mission to [[Bhutan]]. This later led to the establishment of the [[Indian Military Training Team]] in Bhutan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), Bhutan |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/index_imtrat.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619071023/http://indianarmy.nic.in/index_imtrat.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 June 2009 |date=19 June 2009}}</ref>
In May 1961, as BGS [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]], Brigadier Arora led a team of military officers and men sent by the [[Government of India]] on a [[reconnaissance]] mission to [[Bhutan]]. This later led to the establishment of the [[Indian Military Training Team]] in Bhutan.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT), Bhutan |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/index_imtrat.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619071023/http://indianarmy.nic.in/index_imtrat.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 June 2009 |date=19 June 2022}}</ref>


As a brigadier, he fought in the [[Sino-Indian War]] in 1962. He was appointed a division commander on 21 February 1963,<ref name="GOC_div"/> with a promotion to the rank of [[Major General]] on 20 June 1964.<ref name="maj_gen">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=371  |date=12 September 1964 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was then appointed Director of Military Training (DMT) on 23 November 1964.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=509  |date=19 December 1964 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He also participated in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].
As a brigadier, he fought in the [[Sino-Indian War]] in 1962. He was appointed a division commander on 21 February 1963,<ref name="GOC_div"/> with a promotion to the rank of [[Major General]] on 20 June 1964.<ref name="maj_gen">{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=371  |date=12 September 1964 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He was then appointed Director of Military Training (DMT) on 23 November 1964.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part I-Section 4: Ministry of Defence (Army Branch) |page=509  |date=19 December 1964 |publisher=The Gazette of India}}</ref> He also participated in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].
Line 50: Line 50:
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.
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 2022}}</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 [[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.
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 2022}}</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 2022}}</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]],  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"/>
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 2022}}</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.
Line 62: Line 62:


==Death==
==Death==
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 2022}}</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 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.
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.
Line 139: Line 139:
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:St. Anthony's High School, Lahore alumni]]
[[Category:St. Anthony's High School, Lahore alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bir Protik]]
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/366113"