By Rajiv Theodore
New Delhi, Dec 23, 2019: Precisely 48 years ago, on December 16, Pakistan surrendered to India at Dhaka’s Ramna Race Course, the largest military surrender after World War—11.
One of the shortest wars that lasted for 13 days had ended with the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with his 93,000 troops, surrendering to the joint forces of Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini. The military confrontation between India and Pakistan occurred from December 3 to the fall of Dacca (Dhaka) on December 16 in 1971. The outcome — Pakistan lost half its country, its forces in the East and the birth of the new nation—Bangladesh rising from the ashes of East Pakistan.
The scene of surrender is today eternalized in that iconic photo that adorns several high profile walls from the national museum to several regimental headquarters across the country. Zooming in on the photo, there are all the major actors in history– Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Niazi, Major General Jacob.
But another man, bespectacled, on the far right stooped lower is also been captured in that celebrated photograph. For the many who may not recognize him –he is the legendary newscaster, sports journalist and a man who has the knack of getting the scoop literally coming into his hands. He was Surojit Sen of the All India Radio fame, who lent his rich baritone to the state run broadcaster since 1947 and creating a whole generation of die-hard followers who swear by his reassuring voice.
I was fortunate enough to know Sen very closely, who spent many an afternoon at the once famous United News of India (UNI) canteen with me chatting away in his booming voice, recounting an era where he was almost the king of broadcasting journalism. In one of those lazy afternoon conversation he recounted the pistol that was given to him as a memento by the Indian Army while he was reporting, the India Pakistan war from the extreme front. The pistol had belonged to a slain Pakistan army officer, .32 from an ordnance factory near Peshawar. It was one of his prized possessions as part of the several memorabilia he had collected during his stint at Bangladesh.
It is another story that Sen had formally handed over these historic artifacts, mementos and documents to the then chief of army staff J J Singh as a museum for further preservation. Interesting conversation continued on the Bangladesh front as Sen was the first foreign correspondent to reach Dacca after its surrender. He had carried out many exclusive interviews including the top political leaders of the newly founded Bangladesh, intellectuals, student leaders and members of Badr Bahini and Razakars.
An interview with Sheikh Hasina is one of them. He also produced several special features to include ‘On the name of Islam’ –a write-up on the atrocities of the Pakistani army in Bangladesh and ‘The Anatomy of a Pakistani Soldier’ –an article based on actual recording on the ground during the war. He spoke about how he squirrelled a film that depicted atrocities of the Pak army against the students in Bangladesh. His daring acts could have been because of a 2-year stint in the Indian army before he changed tracks into broadcasting.
Another daring story he broke was during the 1972 Munich Olympics where he was reporting the games. He recounted those pulsating moments when he was yards away hiding in a ditch recording and furiously scribbling away notes when a group of masked Palestine terrorists kidnapped and killed Israeli athletes
His long career as a radio news caster, sports commentator and a roving journalist took him around the globe, linked him up with famous personalities and nearly catapulted him to a celebrity status. But, none of this glamour and hype had any enduring effects on Sen. At heart he was the same old school boy from St Xavier’s, Ranchi, who loved his job reassuring the millions who had cocked their years onto the radio that all is well as he spoke with that inimitable sense of mission. He never bothered to cultivate anyone, feared nor favored absolutely none and only listened to the inner voice.
Today his legacy stays for posterity. He was the role model for a generation of news readers. Objectivity was synonymous with his reporting; the news was the last word. Last but not the least his courage was never under fire. Sen despite being stone–deaf, fading memory, heart condition, weak lungs ravaged by pneumonia, arthritis , to list a few of his debilitating mess that his body had become during the last years was unvanquished till he breathed his last.