East West University, Dhaka

• GEN 226

• Lecture 21: Theme: Role of India and Big Powers: Role of Indira Gandhi and Government of India Role of USSR, USA, China, Britain and Other Countries Pro-Pakistan Role of US President Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger 2 Role of India and Big Powers  Foreign Friends of the Liberation War:  Foreign friends contributed a lot to the Liberation War of Bangladesh  They extended help and hands of cooperation in different ways  Their cooperation was the outcome of their personal perception and their urge from heart calling it a just war against the Pakistani occupation forces  In some cases their support were against the position of their governments  They included the heads of states, heads of governments, politicians, members of parliaments, poets and novelists, intellectuals, educationists, painters, singers or cultural personalities 3 Role of India and Big Powers  Role of India and Indira Gandhi:  India from the very beginning started helping the liberating Bangladeshis  India’s role in Liberation war of Bangladesh were multifarious and took different directions and shapes  These included:  Opening border for the fleeing Bengalis  Giving them initial shelter and security  Ultimately taking burden of about 1 crore refugees  Helping to form the Mujibnagar Government  Giving the new government all political, economic, diplomatic and logistic support  Giving training to the freedom fighters  Providing arms and ammunitions to the freedom fighters  Creating joint Indo-Bangladesh command  Finally engaging with Pakistan in a war to liberate Bangladesh along with the Muktibahinis 4 . Position of Indian and Pakistani army camps which gave strategic advances to the Liberation forces of Bangladesh Role of India and Big Powers 5 Role of India and Big Powers  Role of India and Indira Gandhi:  Prime Minister Indira Gandhi played an extraordinary role in all these efforts of India  She supported Bangladesh fully in the opposition of two great powers USA and China  She tried hard to create public opinion worldwide in favour of Bangladesh  At the last stage she toured the world to gather support for the Liberation War  Lastly she took the risk of involving India in a risky war with Pakistan without knowing for sure how long it would continue  She herself directed the war to bring it to a successful end 6 . Role of India and Big Powers Indira visiting the refugee camps Indira addressing a meeting in Kolkata when the news of Pakistan air attack came 7 . Prime Minister Indira Gandhi toured many countries to seek support for the Liberation War Role of India and Big Powers Indira and British Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home, October 1971 Indira with Soviet President Brezhnev, 1971 Indira with German Chancellor Willy Brandt, 1971 Indira with US President Nixon, 1971 8 . Indira Gandhi reviewing troops in 1971