Rubon Saproo

The good news for bird lovers, who like watching water-fowl, should visit the Kashmir valley in this winter season asaround one million migratory birds of different species andcolour have already arrived in the wetlands as usual aftercovering long distances from different parts of Siberia, Rus-sia, China, North Europe and Middle East. The numbershows that there is a considerable increase in the popula-tion of migratory birds despite claims of their decline figurein India due to rapid degradation of the environment.

These birds include Greyleg Geese, Brahminy Duck,Tufted Duck, Northern Pin-Tail, Gadwall, Northern Shoveller,Red Crested Pochard, Common Teal, Common Merganser,Mallard and some rare species, including a pair of Wigeon.These birds cover thousands of miles to come here and then,as winter ends, they once again return to their original habi-tat without making any mistake in the direction they have totake in their long flights.

“The migratory birds start arriving in the beginning ofNovember and will stay till February-March, but this year theycome earlier in the first week of October and with huge num-bers. About, 4 lakh birds have landed in valley in the monthof October and such record number of migratory birds hasnot been spotted in recent years during this period,” an offi-cial of Wetland Division Kashmir said. He also said that thenumber has touched now one million.

These winged visitors can be spotted by and large inevery water body of Kashmir valley, however, flocks of thesewater birds are easily noticeable on the protected wetlandconservation reserves like, Hokarsar, Hygam and Mirgundin Baramulla, Wular in Bandipora, Shallabugh in Ganderbaland Chatlum, Kranchu and Minibugh in Pulwama district.

One can see groups of Pintails who have arrived this yearin large numbers than the usually dominated Mallards. Thereis a confusion to identify Mallards among domestic ducks inwater bodies. Domestic ducks may lack white neck ring, showwhite on the chest, be all dark, or show oddly shaped crestson the head. Mallard is the ancestor of nearly all domesticduck breeds except Muscovy duck.

So far, over 300 protected species of avifauna have beenrecorded in Kashmir valley, including 18 species of ducksand equal number of threatened species where the exactnumbers of endangered species are not known. Of the 300

bird species, about 50% are migratory and 50% residentbirds. The famous wetland Hokarsar, which is about 13 Kmfrom Srinagar, has become a paradise for migratory waterbirds during this winter as large numbers of waterfowl flockto the sanctuary. About, five lakh birds comprising of main-ly Mallard, Northern Pintail, Common Teal and Garganeycan be spotted on waters of Hokarsar. However, this num-ber exceeds in the month of February when migratory birdsfrom other places converge here before flying back to theiroriginal habitat.

The main reason for flock of water birds in such great

number in Hokarsar is its unique feature of bird adaptationin winters. This wetland conservation reserve also providesa favourable habitat for both resident and migratory water-fowl. The lake offers suitable environment for differentspecies during breeding cycles. These breeding speciesinclude Little Grebe, Little Bittern, Grey Heron, Night Heron,Little Egret, Water Rail, Common Moorhen and Pheasant-Tailed Jacana. Some birds depend on this wetland complete-ly for breeding, feeding, resting and shelter where others usethis wetland for their needs or they might use both wetlandand upland habitats.

Hokarsar has been declared as ‘Ramsar Site’ in Indiaduring 2005 comprises Indian wetlands deemed to be of‘International Importance’ under the Ramsar convention.Earlier, in the year 1945, Maharaja Hari Singh has notifiedit an important ‘bird sanctuary’ keeping in view of its uniquehabitat for birds.

Like Hokarsar, the birds also arrive in Wular Lake-Largest

fresh water lake in India- in good numbers in winter days.

This lake is considered to be the best staging ground for

migratory waterfowl due to its hassle free environment, bet-

ter protection and adequate food. But, the migratory birds

have chosen the water body only for night stays and fly to

other wetlands in the morning. The birds migrate at day due

to interference of both human population and local birds.

Hardly, few thousands of birds could be seen floating on and

flying over the largest water body.A good number of migratory birds also flock avian in Shal-

labugh, Hygam ,Mirgund, Chatlum, Kranchu and Minibughwetlands besides in a reservoir of Lower Jhelum Hydro Pow-er Project while the lakes of Manasbal , Anchar and Nageenalso witness small flocks of water birds. However, thick pop-ulation of these winged visitors can also be observed in worldfamous Dal Lake. It seems beauty has returned in these‘dying’wetlands the moment water fowls entered in their life.There is a buzz with birds chirping, cooing and fluttering.There are thousands of colourful water birds swimminggracefully on still and swampy waters. Visitors come here towatch these birds and they do not show any fright.

Migration is one of the most fascinating aspects of theavian world. They arrive in Kashmir to escape from harshwinters of their original habitats. The adverse conditionsoccurring in these sites followed by extreme cold and frozenwater bodies which restrict their free movement compelledmajority of birds to migrate. However, for all birds, it isbelieved that scarcity of food is one of the principle is driv-ing forces behind their migration.

Unfortunately, many of the world’s migratory species arein decline, assailed by multiple threats, including habitat loss,unsustainable hunting, illegal poaching, climate change anddiseases. But, for the safety of migratory birds, a state-lev-el planning and efforts are needed to sensitize people onbird conservation.

Our winged visitors

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine

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16 December 1971, has been written in Golden Letters inthe Indian History. This day will remain a 'Golden Day', forever, in the military history of India. It is this day when the'Instrument of Surrender' was presented by Lt Gen AK Niazi,C-in-C of Pakistan Army in East Pakistan before Lt Gen J SArora, GOC-in-C Eastern Command of the Indian Army atDacca with a request to accept it. Gen J S Arora, acceptedhistory's greatest military surrender post World War II on thisday. Just after 23 years of its independent identity, 'IndianArmed Forces' executed, within '12 days' the most decisiveliberation campaign in the military history, giving an oppressednation of 75 million of East Pakistan, its independence. In onelightening strike; it brought a formidable enemy to its kneesand took 93,000 of them prisoners. Few campaigns in histo-ry have caused as much surprise and speculation as Indianarmed forces' liberation of Bangladesh. Foreign analysts havecompared this achievement to German 'blitzkrieg' of WW II.'The Sunday Times of London' wrote, "It took 12 days for theIndian Army to smash its way to Dacca, an achievement rem-iniscent of German Blitzkrieg across France in 1940. The strat-egy was the same; speed, ferocity and flexibility". 1971 victo-ry epitomizes the glory of Indian Armed Forces. Since thennation proudly celebrates 16 December as Vijay Diwas all overIndia. Historic picture shows unprecedented signing ceremo-ny of 'Document of Surrender' by top military commanders ofbarring sides.

The catastrophic events of 1971, which took place in EastPakistan left civilised world aghast. For the veterans who hadfought 1965 war and those like me who were fighting 1971war in the West, it was difficult to understand how a profes-sional Pak Army could be humbled by the same people whomthey felt could be crushed with the use of their illusory militarymight. The detailed analysis of 1971 war suggests that a mil-itary solution was applied to a political problem. The intriguingqueries worry the mind constantly about cause of debacle ofa professional army. Knowing the Pak soldiers, it is hard tobelieve that their will to fight was so effectively smashed bythe Indian Army and Mukti Vahini that they reached a break-ing point too early in their own country and in own well pre-pared defensive positions. Only answer one could get is thatit was basically a political problem for which a political solutionshould have been applied instead of blundering a military solu-tion. The genesis of the crisis, in fact, lay in the illusion thatIslam was a greater binding factor than cultural heritage. Pakarmy was to kill Muslims before that myth was finally explod-ed. It was Gen Yahaya Khan, who having earlier succeededin military fields blundered in political field and hence wasresponsible for the dismemberment of Pakistan and the humil-iation of its army.

First ever democratic general election was held in Pak-istan in1970. Sheikh Mujibur Rehman's party, Awami League,won the mandate by winning 167 National Assembly seatswhereas other parties combined won 146 including 88 of Pak-istan People'sParty (PPP). But Punjabi dominated polity of theWestern Wing refused to hand over power to Bengali politi-cians. Z A Bhutto, leader of PPP, with lesser number of seatsin National Assembly was sworn in as Prime Minister. This ledto political discontent and social unrest. Civilians, politicians,students and intelligentsia came on the streets demandingthat the results of the election must be honoured. The cultur-al nationalism was met by brutal suppressive force. An armedconflict broke out between East and West resulting in the

secession of East Pakistan. Military action led to flow ofrefugees, estimated to be about 10 million, flooding into theeastern states of India. Facing a mounting humanitarian andeconomic crisis, India started actively aiding and organisingthe Bangladeshi resistance army known as the Mukti Vahini.Pakistan launched a pre-emptive attack on India on 3 Decem-ber, which triggered Indo-Pak War of 1971.

The political environments in East Pakistan did not war-rant the adoption of a course of action which could willy nillygave a neighbour, a chance,even the remotest and anexcuse to intervene militarily. Itshould have been realisedthat, if by any chance, India attacked East Pakistan, the proindependence elements in East Pakistan would sabotagePak military capacity to fight. In that case Pak Army would notonly be fighting the Indian Army but also the rebels organizedas Mukti Vahini and the civilian saboteurs. It would have beenobvious deduction that India would be waiting for an oppor-tunity to exploit a political situation which could be used toattack East Pakistan. That is exactly what happened. IndianArmy was offered an opportunity on the platter to inflict deepwounds on the hearts of Pak nation that they will carry thescars of these wounds to the eternity, which would justifyavenge of the 1947 and 1965 wars. So long as we keep cel-ebrating Vijay Diwas, their wounds will never heal and thatshould be the minimum price an irritant adversary should bemade to pay. With the fall of Dacca on 16 December 1971,Indian Army had scored a decisive victory over Pakistan with

93,000 soldiers made prisoners. Later an accord was signedbetween the two on 2 July 1972 at Shimla. It was agreed toexchange all the prisoners, respect the LOC and refrain fromuse of force or threat in future. It was also agreed to solveissues, if any, by bilateralism. Additionally, Bhutto gave asolemn pledge to accept LOC as de facto border. Indiareleased all prisoners in good faith whereas Pakistan releasedonly 617 Indian prisoners while holding back 54 who are stilllanguishing in Pakistani jails. The Indian govt has admitted

this fact many times but has failedto secure their release. Indiafailed to use the leverage of93,000 prisoners to discipline

estranged neighbour. A rare opportunity was lost.

Forget establishing permanent peace in the sub-conti-

nent, India failed to secure release of all its prisoners, a crim-

inal omission by all accounts. The naivety of Indian delega-

tion can be seen from the fact that it allowed Pakistan to bluff

its way through at Shimla. Indian leadership was led into

believing Pak sincerity while Pakistan never intended to abide

by its promises, both written and verbal. Fruits of hard fought

victory in the battlefield were frittered away, once again after

1965 war, on the negotiating table by the bungling leadership.China had not vacated captured areas in Ladakh sector in

1962 and we were compelled to gave away Hajipir after cap-turing it in fierce hand to hand fight in 1965. Having lost chunkof our land to China and Pakistan in previous wars, we madePakistan lose its Eastern Wing. It took the world by surprise.

US tried to intimidate India by sending its 7th Fleet into IndianOcean. But the political and military leadership stood like arock in the face of American threat. Credit for Indian victory of1971 goes to Indian Armed Forces' lightning offensive in theEast in synergy with Mukti Vahini of East Pakistan. After 1962debacle we had already redeemed our honour to an extent

during the 1965 war. Ultimate was achieved in 1971. It wouldhave been obvious that India would be waiting for an oppor-tunity to exploit any political / military situation in the neighbour-hood which could be used to establish India as reckonablemilitary power in the sub-continent. This opportunity came on26 March 1971when Sheikh Mujibur Rehman of East Pak-istan declared Eastern Wing as independent nation ofBangladesh.

There has been immense speculation as to why Pak Armycollapsed in Bangladesh. It was because of its moral degra-dation. After months of brutalities, looting and raping, from high-est to the lowest rank, Pak Army had become partly dehuman-ised. In almost all the cantonments, hundreds of young womenhad been kept for sexual pleasure and in many cases theywere bayoneted or shot as replacements were brought. Massslaughter, burning and looting was carried out till the last day.Those who have seen this happening can understand whyPak Army collapsed. It was because of moral degradation thatit had forsaken its professional mettle. The other reason was'vastly superior planning, direction and execution of the cam-paign by India because of a sense of vision, carefully definedobjective and inspiring leadership of Mrs Indira Gandhi andField Marshal Manekshaw.

Witnessing glaring setbacks in defence preparedness onthe LOC culminating into Samba incident (and Hiranagar);query from civil society is, "are we weaker or stronger than1971when we inflicted crushing defeat on Pak Army in East Pak-istan and liberated Bangladesh? Can we defeat Pakistan nowif a war is thrust upon us?" The answer resoundingly is thatwe are much stronger and can easily defeat Pak Army if a waris thrust upon us.

TO THOSE WHO MADE INDIA PROUD

VIJAY DIWAS

Gen J S Arora look on, while Gen AK Niazi signs the surrender document

Bird Beauty : Migratory birds at Hokarsar

For the veterans who hadfought 1965 war and those likeme who were fighting 1971 war

in the West, it was difficult tounderstand how a professionalPak Army could be humbledby the same people whom

they felt could be crushed withthe use of their illusory militarymight. The detailed analysis of

1971 war suggests that a military solution was applied

to a political problem.