Victory Flame arrives at Southern Command HQ in Pune
By A Draft Correspondent
The Victory Flame, which marks 50 years of India's win in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, arrived at Sarhad College in Katraj, Pune on 1 October 2021 and was received by the Station Commander Pune Military Station. The Southern Command of the Indian Army, along with the local civil administration, will host the Victory Flame for a month starting 1 October 2021 and organise month-long celebrations at several locations in Pune.
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| The Victory Flame received a grand reception at Katraj |
The Victory Flame marks 50 years of historic accomplishment of one of the greatest military victories of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1971 Indo-Pak War that is being celebrated as the Swarnim Vijay Varsh. The 1971 Indo-Pak War led to the liberation of Bangladesh and the 50th year is being observed as Swarnim Vijay Varsh to remember the valour, bravery and sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers.
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| The celebrations underway at Council Hall in Pune |
The year-long celebrations commenced on 16 December 2020 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi lit the Victory Flame at National War Memorial in New Delhi. Four victory flames, lit from the main flame at the memorial, were flagged off in four cardinal directions and have been travelling across the country since.
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| Veterans and dignitaries at the Council Hall with the Victory Flame |
After the grand reception in Katraj, the Victory Flame was carried to the Council Hall where it was received by military and civil dignitaries amid celebrations. A relay was organised to carry the flame from the Council Hall till the Southern Command in which Indian Hockey legend Dhanraj Pillai along with Olympians and gallantry award winners of the 1971 War participated.
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| Indian Hockey legend Dhanraj Pillai participated in the relay carrying the Victory Flame |
General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Southern Command of the Indian Army Lieutenant General Jai Singh Nain AVSM, SM received the Victory Flame at the War Memorial and paid his tributes. Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh Md Latifur Rahman and senior veterans of the 1971 Indo-Pak War also attended the event.
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| Dignitaries at the War Memorial in Pune with the Victory Flame |
The four victory flames will converge in New Delhi on 16 December 2021.
