Bangladesh war commentary: 1971 radio dispatches

The late Shri U.L. Baruah as the then Director of the External Services of the All India Radio was a close observer of the events of 1971 beginning with a domestic crisis in Pakistan. This domestic crisis changed in character when millions of refugees crossed into India as Pakistan’s military regime resorted to brute force to suppress legitimate aspirations of autonomy and linguistic and economic rights that had crystallized in its eastern wing. The application of military force and consequent massive refugee movement made Pakistan’s national crisis into a regional crisis. The military regime’s unresolved enmity towards India finally rebounded on itself leading to the December 1971 war and the emergence of a sovereign Bangladesh. Baruah penned these dispatches for broadcast over radio for the benefit of larger audiences in India and elsewhere. These provide therefore an overview and analysis of events much as they unfolded. Like all good journalism they are therefore the first draft of history.