INDIA. Mumbai: The ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’, which is being taken across the country to commemorate India’s victory in the Indo-Pak 1971 war, reached Mumbai after traversing 4500 km via Delhi, Jaisalmer, Dwarka, and Vadodara on Wednesday.
The ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ (Victory Flame), was received by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in the presence of Vice-Admiral R Hari Kumar, FOC-in-C Western Naval Command, Lt Gen SK Prashar, GOC Maharashtra Gujarat and Goa Area, and Air Vice-Marshal SR Singh, AOC HQ Maritime Air Operations at the Gateway of India located in South Mumbai.
India is celebrating ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ in remembrance of 50 years of strategic victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which resulted in the creation of a new nation; ‘Bangladesh’. A Victory flame symbolizing India’s victory was lit at Delhi on December 16, 2020, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is travelling in four cardinal directions across the country.
A grand reception for the Victory Flame was organized under the aegis of Headquarters, Maharashtra Gujarat, and Goa Area of Indian Armed Forces. Prominent Military Dignitaries from the three services were present on the occasion.
The civil dignitaries who were present included: Maharashtra Protocol Minister Aditya Thackeray, Minister for Agriculture Dadaji Bhuse, Minister of State for Home Satej Patil, CM’s Principal Secretary Vikas Kharge, and CM’s wife Rashmi Thackeray.
On the occasion, the chief minister felicitated Chakra awardees of 1971 operations during the ceremony. Those who were felicitated included: Former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, Former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Vijay Singh Shekhawat, PVSM, AVSM, Late Lt Gen Francis T Dias, PVSM, AVSM, VrC ( his wife Selda Dias received the award), Naik Dhondiram Bansode, Vir Chakra and Wing Commander Dineshchandra Nayyar, Vir Chakra.
The celebrations were highlighted by a flypast by the IAF aircraft and a band concert by the Joint Services band. The band played patriotic songs lending an air of glory and patriotism.
The Victory flame will be stationed till September 09, in Mumbai before its departure for Panaji, Goa. During this period the Indian Armed Forces will organize various ceremonial and cultural events. The Victory flame, along with representatives of Headquarters Maharashtra Gujarat and Goa Area, will also be taken to the houses of 1971 war awardees and those who made the supreme sacrifice to pay tribute for their valiant service to the nation.
