Those who proudly claim today, "Indira Gandhi broke Pakistan and created Bangladesh," should ask one simple question—what did India truly gain? Not swayed by emotions or slogans, a cold, hard accounting of history reveals a starkly different picture.
Military Sacrifices
India lost nearly 3,900 soldiers in the 1971 war that birthed Bangladesh, with around 3,843 confirmed deaths across fronts.
The Air Force sacrificed over 45 aircraft, including Hunters, Jaguars, and MiGs, exceeding 36 losses in combat.
At sea, the INS Khukri sank after a Pakistani torpedo attack, claiming 194 lives, including Commanding Officer Mahendra Nath Mulla, marking one of the most tragic naval incidents since World War II.
Unreturned Prisoners
Around 54 Indian soldiers and officers remain missing in action from the war, captured by Pakistan but never repatriated despite international agreements like the Simla Accord.
Indira Gandhi's government failed to secure their return, a fact rarely highlighted today.
Economic Burden
To shelter roughly 10 million Bangladeshi refugees, India imposed heavy surcharges on citizens: cinema tickets rose by ₹1.20, train fares by ₹0.75, bus fares by ₹1-4, and grain levies added ₹1.20 per quintal.
The Refugee Relief Stamp, printed to ₹400 crore value, was mandatory for transactions over ₹100, salaries, and land registries, with funds sent to aid refugees.
Betrayal of Gratitude
Global aid flowed, including George Harrison and Ravi Shankar's 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, which raised about $12-14 million initially for famine-hit refugees.
ISKCON fed the hungry for years from Dhaka's temple, yet that same temple was burned years later amid anti-minority violence.
Today, Bangladesh aligns with Pakistan—despite the 1971 genocide of 300,000-3 million Bengalis and rape of 200,000-400,000 women—and often rails against its savior.
This is history's ledger, not emotion. Is repaying such a debt truly that simple?
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