2023 - Operation Vijay 1971 | Mint Souvenir Token

The India Government Mint, Kolkata, issued a coloured souvenir token to commemorate Operation Vijay 1971.

Operation Vijay was the military operation conducted by India in December 1971 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which ultimately led to the liberation of Bangladesh and the creation of a new nation.

The conflict began against the backdrop of political unrest and a humanitarian crisis in East Pakistan. Millions of refugees crossed into India, placing a significant humanitarian and economic burden on the country. India eventually intervened militarily after hostilities escalated in December 1971.

The Indian Armed Forces conducted coordinated operations across the eastern and western fronts. In the east, Indian forces, together with the Mukti Bahini, advanced rapidly towards Dhaka. The campaign culminated on December 16, 1971, when Lieutenant General A. A. K. Niazi of the Pakistan Eastern Command surrendered to Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian and Bangladesh forces in Dhaka.

The surrender marked one of the largest military surrenders since the Second World War, with approximately 93,000 Pakistani military personnel and associated personnel becoming prisoners of war. Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation.

Operation Vijay 1971 holds an important place in India's military history, symbolising the courage, coordination and sacrifice of the Indian Armed Forces and their role in a historic transformation in the Indian subcontinent.