Army demands Bharat Ratna for Lt Gen Sagat

Yash Goyal

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Jaipur, June 20

The Army today demanded that Lieutenant General Sagat Singh—who was instrumental in the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 and the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese in 1961—should be considered for Bharat Ratna posthumously. His exemplary courage and biography should be included in the school and college curriculum, the Army further said.

“Lieut Gen Sagat was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM). This is not sufficient. He played a crucial role in the India-Pakistan war of 1971 and helped liberate Bangladesh in just 13 days,” said Lt General Cherish Mathson, Commander of the Sapta Shakti Command, while addressing a press conference late last evening here.

“The Army can suggest to the government that brilliant military manoeuvres under Sagat’s leadership and his incredible march to Dhaka should be duly recognised. It seems that in the history of the Indian Army, Sagat Singh’s contribution was has faded away,” Mathson said.

“His biography should be included in the textbooks of school and colleges, at least under the Rajasthan Education Department,” he opined in the presence of Sagat Singh’s son Col Ranvijay Singh at Hertiage Hut in 61 Cavalry area here. “The Army would also request the Defence Ministry to extend an invite to Bangladesh so that they can participate in Sagat’s centenary being observed in Rajasthan from July 8 to 14,” he said.

Col Ranvijay said his father was born in Kusumdesar (Moda) village in Rajasthan’s Churu district on July 14, 1919. Beginning his defence career as a “Naik” in the Bikaner Ganga Risala in 1938, Sagat rose to the coveted rank of Lieutenant General after undertaking many challenging military assignments, he said.

Sagat is also known for his participation in the liberation of Goa from the Portugese rule in 1961. In the India-Pakistan war of 1971, his Corps not only made the famous advance towards Dhaka, but also participated in the Meghna Heli Bridge operation—an important aerial operation during the war. He also witnessed the signing of “surrender instrument” by General Niazi of the Pakistan army.