LIEUTENANT GENERAL J F R JACOB - THE ARCHITECT OF INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER OF INDIA PAKISTAN WAR 1971

Instrument of surrender Signing Of  Lt.Gen.Niazi ,Jacob stands  in the Right Hand Side of Niazi

Yesterday evening in a news site I had seen the news report about the death of 1971 Indo-Pakistan war (Bangladesh Liberation) hero Lt.Gen Jacob Farj Rafael Jacob (JFR Jacob).after reading the report I really got disappointed because before reading that report I don’t have an awareness about that real hero and his Contributions. His service was how much valued for our Nations. I had seen him several times in the image of signing Instrument of surrender by Pakistan Lt.Gen. Aamir Abdulla Khan Niazi (AAK Niazi) to JS Aurora of indian army.but unfortunately I can’t identified and yesterday I came to know that he was the real architect of Instrument Of surrender of Pakistan army of East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh). Through this article I would like to write some words about him as my courtesy to his valuable contribution to our nation.

Jacob was born in Culcutta in Jewish family on 1923. His ancestors were migrated from Northern Iraq in 18^th century. Mr.Jacob completed his School education from Darjeeling.1n 1941 during his vacation he heard about the reports regarding the holocaust of European Jews by Nazi Germany in Second World War. This incident motivated hm to join in Royal Indian Army .he enlisted in Army in 1941.during WW2 he served as a military officer in warfields of Iraq, North Africa against the Nazi Germany and Burma, Sumathra against the Japanese Invasion.

After the world war he graduated from artillery schools of Britain and US.after the Partion of India he joined in Indian army and he got promoted to Brigadier in 1963.During Indo Pakistani war of 1963 he commanded an infantary division.In 67 he promoted to Major General and appointed in eastern command of Indian army under Mr Jagajith Singh Aurora (J S Aurora). In 1971 some tensions arose in Eastern Pakistan. East Pakistani laeder Sheik Mujeebur Rahman and his Awami League Party won the elections but the Punjabi Dominated western Pakistan authorities denied the right of Mujeebur Rahman to create the government. This leads to the declaration of independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.but the Pakistan decided to suppress the movement with military action. In 1971 march Pakistan launched Operation Searchlight to suppress the liberation movement.maqny Bangladesh people got killed and gangraped. Bangladeshi people fled to India as refugees, India faced a dangerous inflow of refugees.Indian army and RAW trained the Mujeebur Rahman’s Mukhti Bahini Guerillas (Ethnic Bengali Freedom fighters of East Pakistan) against the Pakistan Army.

On 3^rd December 1971 Pakistan Air Force launced airstrike on the air force bases in North India, this lead India to do the involvement in Bangladesh Liberation war. From December 3 to 16 Indian Airforce occupied the entire Bangladesh skies and Indian Navy cut all the supplies to Bangladesh from Pakistan  and Indian army marched and Occupied the capital City Dhaka. Lt.General AAK Niazi forced to make Negoatiations. On Decemeber 16 Mr Jacob sought Permission to visit Niazi for seeking his surrender.he flew to Dhaka and obtained an unconditional surrender from Niazi.

According to Mr.jacob about the meeting with Niazi

"Niazi still had over 30,000 troops and we had less than 3,000 with depleting ammunition. Yet, when my helicopter landed in Dhaka - with just one staff officer, I marched into his office and told him he had 30 minutes to surrender and only then I could ensure his safety. He wanted a ceasefire but I insisted on a public surrender at the Race Course in Dhaka,"

Later Niazi accused Jacob that he blackmailed Niazi into surrendering by saying Niazi will be lynched or bayoneted by Mukhti bahini.

In 16^th December Lt.Gen. AAK Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender and his 90000 Pakistani soldier’s surrended. This event was a great achievement of Jacob.

In 1978 He Retired from army and in 1990 he joined in Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) and he was a supporter of improving the diplomatic relations with Israel. He served as Governor in Goa and Punjab.

He passed away on 13^th Januray 2016 at Arnmy research and referral hospital due to pneumonia.  My Grant salute to Lt.Gen. Jacob by dedicating this article about him.