It takes a long time to prepare for war: '71 hero KOLKATA: There were many in favour of a military strike on Pakistan after the Mumbai terror strike on November 26. It's one thing to want to fight a war and quite something else to actually fight one. According to Lt Gen (retd) JFR Jacob, it takes months for a country to prepare for war. Jacob was the chief of staff, Eastern Command, in 1971, when India won her greatest ever military victory and helped in the creation of Bangladesh. He was the man behind the meticulous planning that helped India wind up things within a mere 12 days, that too on foreign soil. Even the Pakistan Army has acknowledged Jacob's role in the victory. "It took us six months to prepare for the 1971 War. At that time, we were short of even basic things like bridging material, vehicles and boats. Even the troops had to be trained for the operations. It takes a long time to prepare for war," Jacob said in Kolkata on Monday. He is in the city to participate in the 37th Vijay Diwas celebrations of the Eastern Command. There are some who believe that Jacob did not get due recognition for his role in the war. The mukti joddhas have not forgotten Jacob sahab though. Immediately after the military tattoo held at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club on Monday, as part of the celebrations, the 14 mukti joddhas (who have come from Bangladesh to attend) rushed to him. Jacob, now 85 years old, recognised a few of them. Others he recognised from their units. "These are my boys and they did a splendid job," the retired general remarked, a twinkle in his eyes. Jacob's memory has not dimmed. When a mukti joddha introduced himself as a former naval commando, Jacob reacted, "I had visited your unit and training facilities. Not much has been disclosed about your role in the War. Even today, not much is revealed about the naval commandos." "You must remember that even during the Kargil War, India ran out of ammunition. We had to get 155 mm ammunition from Israel to feed our howitzers," Jacob added. A part of his meticulous planning during 1971 was to stock ammunition even before action began. The general has a long connection with Kolkata. Jacob Farz Rafael Jacob was born to a family of Baghdadi Jews in the city in 1923. At the age of 18, he joined the Army and fought the German and Japanese in Iraq, Africa and Burma. During the 1965 War, Jacob commanded an infantry and artillery division in Rajasthan. In 1969, he was appointed chief of staff, Eastern Command by then Army chief Sam Manekshaw where he was involved in counter insurgency operations in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram till the war broke out. |
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