1971: A Forgotten Story

i recently watched the movie 1971
it has opened up a new world for me
i knew very little information about the POW situation
i have spent the past hours reading on this subject
i feel helpless, i wish there was something i could do, it really is a damn shame that all this happened the way it did, and how everybody has forgotten.
even here in the US we remember a lot of our soldiers who fought for our lives on veterans day etc., we also hear prayers constantly about the troops over in iraq
i wish there was more sense of patriotism in india, everybody is too busy trying to ``american.``
Me living in America all my life, i feel a sad when i go to india and i see people in places like gurgaon who look down on people who don`t talk good english or girls who choose to wear saris or salwar kamiz instead of jeans.....it pisses me off

Re: # 216
Hi Farzana,
I have contacted you on my gmail id which is pushpadivecha@gmail.com
regards
pushpa

Dear Pushpaji:

It is sheer co-incidence that I loooked at this old page, since I needed to check some interactions. If you do look in again, please get in touch with me at kaaghaz.kalamATgmailDOTcom.

This issue is extremely important to me, and as I can see even more important to you.

Regards,
Farzana

Dear Farzana,

You have ended your passionate blog with a prophetic query,
`Does not the appeal, “Join the army” sound like a slap to the parents, since they have been told he is not in the records?`

I whole-heartedly subscribe to this as is apparent with the unpopularity of seeking a career in the armed forces by many bright, intelligent, and adventurous youth.

It was not so in the past. (Its important you see my profile).

The mystery of the missing 54 POWs should not be allowed to die a natural death. The sacrifice of these warriors must never be seen as being in vain by the present and future generations. If even a SINGLE politician`s or big industrialist`s or media baron`s immediate family member had been thus sacrificed, am certain the `great mystery` would have been resolved long ago!

It is indeed tragic that opportunities have been bungled continuously, ever since we did not bargain for the return of even ONE POW in exchange for 2000 we magnanimously released at the end of the 71 war. Thats all water under the bridge now, and historians will forever debate the wisdom of confining the issue of POW exchange to the separate `fronts` in the war.

Getting back to the issue at hand: I begin with an incontrovertable argument, repeated unceasingly by concerned parties:
``It is incredible that all the POWs have simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971 or soon after, and that absolutely no official evidence of their remnants exist``.

I know for a fact that bereaved family members cannot bear to imagine what the state of their loved ones would be (if still alive) after 34 yrs. The treatment meted to undertrials is horrific. Loved families left behind have been made to believe by well-meaning friends that the POWs could not have survived for so long. They have bravely and reluctanly got on with their lives.

That is the practical and caring advice I have myself offered to the suffering families.

Yet, this is only one part of the story, conveniently consigned to limbo to save the families from further pain. For the rest of us Indians, such disgraceful history which mocks patriotism, should not be buried without a thorough post-mortem. It must be unearthed, no matter how painful or embarrassing to the perhaps well-intentioned secrecy of the powers that be.

One could formulate a rational course of action by first analysing the Why`s of this secrecy, and then proceeding through our still credible judicial system, to reach the truth.

Let us accept, however reluctantly, that it was/is not sheer indifference by our govt for not having aggressively sought the release/wherebouts/remains/ashes of the missing POWs. The deception goes way back, over three decades. Most assuredly the records are missing (if at all they were recorded), so its no use blaming our present intelligence agencies for hiding the truth. Even when they have apparently tried their best, they claim to have reached dead-ends.

What however is most unforgiveable, is that a trail which was `provenly existent` in the case of some POWs for many years, was negligently, if not purposefully, allowed to gradually disappear. Now, decades later, the vapours gets life through stray and mostly silly rumours, that serve no purpose excepting to revive hurtful memories.

Through my studies on the subject, and I can only reasonably conjecture, that soon after the war, there was a deliberate `understanding` by India and Pakistan at the very highest levels, to keep all information on the missing POWs absolutely out of view till the picture clears. There are plausible grounds for this conjecture which `a select few in the know` are only privy to, and it is to them we must appeal to `open-up`. The embarrassing disclosures may have been `protected` within the frame-work of larger peace initiatives redifining boundaries within the subcontinent. The Simla peace talks between Indira Gandhi and Bhutto went very deep into shared confidences regarding the possibility of insurrections and further dismemberment of Pakistan. Future perspectives must have been informally and confidentially discussed/hinted at, in the back-drop of military elites plotting to unseat Bhutto. After the cease fire, its likely that in the confusion and anger among `uniformed` Pakistanis for losing the eastern wing, many POW undertrials were randomly scattered, without proper accounting, to remote jails. Even Bhutto may have been disinterested (too busy scheming to remain in power), as also being kept out of the loop by the military. This is not impossible. Bhutto claimed to have been disturbed by the screams of demented POWs sharing his prison when he was himself awaiting execution by the military dictatorship that unseated him. That could have been a clever ploy/red herring by him to get India involved to save his neck. Its quite another matter that we donot know what he did as PM himself after the war to resolve the POW issue!

One fact that can be reasonably surmised, is Pakistan would have been disgracefully exposed to the world for its treatment to POWs had any surviving POWs been returned. Top Indian `negotiators` in their own wisdom may have also felt that families of the missing POWs should be shielded from such ugliness. As is the case with any criminal activity, evidence is destroyed. Probably the POWs have also, inevitably and sadly, been fated to this end.

Subsequent Indian Govts, excepting for some maverick attempts, went along with the earlier ones as a matter of policy. Both sides have connived in obscuring the issue with platitudes and sheer noise. Pakistan`s conciliatory gestures are an eyewash, because for all practical purposes, the trail is covered up.

The above long discourse is to better inform international forums and active NGOs towards formulating an achievable twin-track course of action to meet practicable ends:

1. Previous participants in peace negotiations with Pakistan, and those with credible information (bureaucrats, military, politicians, advisors etc) must be informally persuaded through wide publicity/legally coerced with absolution from prosecution for any infringement of law (Official Secrets Act) into revealing all that they know. This is indisputably in the larger interest of human justice. The primary thrust of the legal argument keeping this subject worthwhile, is what was stated at the beginning of this missive:
``It is incredible that the POWs have all simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971, and that no evidence of their remnants exist``.
(A similar move could be informally initiated in Pakistan by the media and NGO`s. The spin-offs are substantial in furthering friendly relations between the two peoples of the present and future generations who carry no blame for past hostilities between the two nations).
Possibly there is a misconceived interpretation of what constitutes `secrecy out of compassion`, by those holding back. They must `speak out` now, even after 35 years, so that the wounds do not fester.
For sure it will be a long and protracted process as the facts are collated, for missing portions of history to get dispassionately updated. This is imperative for the faith of citizenry in democratic governance, and plain human decency.
I am not a legal expert, but I can suggest that active NGOs pursuing this matter `re-introduce` a well-defined PIL, as also petition our President.

2. Persuade Pakistan to actively cooperate in searching/rescuing/restoring any material that may have survived all these years. These should be handed over to the families through discreet NGOs

For this mission to succeed, the media `tamasha` MUST be kept totally out of this effort, till `after` it has been achieved. A guarantee of confidence to this effect must be made by all concerned. A vital and encouraging cog in bringing such a scheme to fruition is the President of Pakistan, General Musharraf. We must take him by his word when he claims that being a soldier himself, he is not devoid of compassion when it comes to the subject of the missing POWs. The General`s proactivity in facilitating this would immediatey ameliorate a small but vital portion of the pain by way of the sentimental memorablia being handed to the families of the missing POWs. He would deservedly earn our gratitude, and establish his image as a humane person.

I have noted on this blog-site the participation of many influential and concerned parties. I therefore hope the `message` reaches general Musharaff, because he HAS the power to help us realise what many would cynically dismiss as a `pipe-dream`..

With all hope
pushpa

Dear Farzana,

You have ended your passionate blog with a prophetic query,
`Does not the appeal, “Join the army” sound like a slap to the parents, since they have been told he is not in the records?`

I whole-heartedly subscribe to this as is apparent with the unpopularity of seeking a career in the armed forces by many bright, intelligent, and adventurous youth.

It was not so in the past. (Its important you see my profile).

The mystery of the missing 54 POWs should not be allowed to die a natural death. The sacrifice of these warriors must never be seen as being in vain by the present and future generations. If even a SINGLE politician`s or big industrialist`s or media baron`s immediate family member had been thus sacrificed, am certain the `great mystery` would have been resolved long ago!

It is indeed tragic that opportunities have been bungled continuously, ever since we did not bargain for the return of even ONE POW in exchange for 2000 we magnanimously released at the end of the 71 war. Thats all water under the bridge now, and historians will forever debate the wisdom of confining the issue of POW exchange to the separate `fronts` in the war.

Getting back to the issue at hand: I begin with an incontrovertable argument, repeated unceasingly by concerned parties:
``It is incredible that all the POWs have simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971 or soon after, and that absolutely no official evidence of their remnants exist``.

I know for a fact that bereaved family members cannot bear to imagine what the state of their loved ones would be (if still alive) after 34 yrs. The treatment meted to undertrials is horrific. Loved families left behind have been made to believe by well-meaning friends that the POWs could not have survived for so long. They have bravely and reluctanly got on with their lives.

That is the practical and caring advice I have myself offered to the suffering families.

Yet, this is only one part of the story, conveniently consigned to limbo to save the families from further pain. For the rest of us Indians, such disgraceful history which mocks patriotism, should not be buried without a thorough post-mortem. It must be unearthed, no matter how painful or embarrassing to the perhaps well-intentioned secrecy of the powers that be.

One could formulate a rational course of action by first analysing the Why`s of this secrecy, and then proceeding through our still credible judicial system, to reach the truth.

Let us accept, however reluctantly, that it was/is not sheer indifference by our govt for not having aggressively sought the release/wherebouts/remains/ashes of the missing POWs. The deception goes way back, over three decades. Most assuredly the records are missing (if at all they were recorded), so its no use blaming our present intelligence agencies for hiding the truth. Even when they have apparently tried their best, they claim to have reached dead-ends.

What however is most unforgiveable, is that a trail which was `provenly existent` in the case of some POWs for many years, was negligently, if not purposefully, allowed to gradually disappear. Now, decades later, the vapours gets life through stray and mostly silly rumours, that serve no purpose excepting to revive hurtful memories.

Through my studies on the subject, and I can only reasonably conjecture, that soon after the war, there was a deliberate `understanding` by India and Pakistan at the very highest levels, to keep all information on the missing POWs absolutely out of view till the picture clears. There are plausible grounds for this conjecture which `a select few in the know` are only privy to, and it is to them we must appeal to `open-up`. The embarrassing disclosures may have been `protected` within the frame-work of larger peace initiatives redifining boundaries within the subcontinent. The Simla peace talks between Indira Gandhi and Bhutto went very deep into shared confidences regarding the possibility of insurrections and further dismemberment of Pakistan. Future perspectives must have been informally and confidentially discussed/hinted at, in the back-drop of military elites plotting to unseat Bhutto. After the cease fire, its likely that in the confusion and anger among `uniformed` Pakistanis for losing the eastern wing, many POW undertrials were randomly scattered, without proper accounting, to remote jails. Even Bhutto may have been disinterested (too busy scheming to remain in power), as also being kept out of the loop by the military. This is not impossible. Bhutto claimed to have been disturbed by the screams of demented POWs sharing his prison when he was himself awaiting execution by the military dictatorship that unseated him. That could have been a clever ploy/red herring by him to get India involved to save his neck. Its quite another matter that we donot know what he did as PM himself after the war to resolve the POW issue!

One fact that can be reasonably surmised, is Pakistan would have been disgracefully exposed to the world for its treatment to POWs had any surviving POWs been returned. Top Indian `negotiators` in their own wisdom may have also felt that families of the missing POWs should be shielded from such ugliness. As is the case with any criminal activity, evidence is destroyed. Probably the POWs have also, inevitably and sadly, been fated to this end.

Subsequent Indian Govts, excepting for some maverick attempts, went along with the earlier ones as a matter of policy. Both sides have connived in obscuring the issue with platitudes and sheer noise. Pakistan`s conciliatory gestures are an eyewash, because for all practical purposes, the trail is covered up.

The above long discourse is to better inform international forums and active NGOs towards formulating an achievable twin-track course of action to meet practicable ends:

1. Previous participants in peace negotiations with Pakistan, and those with credible information (bureaucrats, military, politicians, advisors etc) must be informally persuaded through wide publicity/legally coerced with absolution from prosecution for any infringement of law (Official Secrets Act) into revealing all that they know. This is indisputably in the larger interest of human justice. The primary thrust of the legal argument keeping this subject worthwhile, is what was stated at the beginning of this missive:
``It is incredible that the POWs have all simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971, and that no evidence of their remnants exist``.
(A similar move could be informally initiated in Pakistan by the media and NGO`s. The spin-offs are substantial in furthering friendly relations between the two peoples of the present and future generations who carry no blame for past hostilities between the two nations).
Possibly there is a misconceived interpretation of what constitutes `secrecy out of compassion`, by those holding back. They must `speak out` now, even after 35 years, so that the wounds do not fester.
For sure it will be a long and protracted process as the facts are collated, for missing portions of history to get dispassionately updated. This is imperative for the faith of citizenry in democratic governance, and plain human decency.
I am not a legal expert, but I can suggest that active NGOs pursuing this matter `re-introduce` a well-defined PIL, as also petition our President.

2. Persuade Pakistan to actively cooperate in searching/rescuing/restoring any material that may have survived all these years. These should be handed over to the families through discreet NGOs

For this mission to succeed, the media `tamasha` MUST be kept totally out of this effort, till `after` it has been achieved. A guarantee of confidence to this effect must be made by all concerned. A vital and encouraging cog in bringing such a scheme to fruition is the President of Pakistan, General Musharraf. We must take him by his word when he claims that being a soldier himself, he is not devoid of compassion when it comes to the subject of the missing POWs. The General`s proactivity in facilitating this would immediatey ameliorate a small but vital portion of the pain by way of the sentimental memorablia being handed to the families of the missing POWs. He would deservedly earn our gratitude, and establish his image as a humane person.

I have noted on this blog-site the participation of many influential and concerned parties. I therefore hope the `message` reaches general Musharaff, because he HAS the power to help us realise what many would cynically dismiss as a `pipe-dream`..

With all hope
pushpa

Dear Farzana,

You have ended your passionate blog with a prophetic query,
`Does not the appeal, “Join the army” sound like a slap to the parents, since they have been told he is not in the records?`

I whole-heartedly subscribe to this as is apparent with the unpopularity of seeking a career in the armed forces by many bright, intelligent, and adventurous youth.

It was not so in the past. (Its important you see my profile).

The mystery of the missing 54 POWs should not be allowed to die a natural death. The sacrifice of these warriors must never be seen as being in vain by the present and future generations. If even a SINGLE politician`s or big industrialist`s or media baron`s immediate family member had been thus sacrificed, am certain the `great mystery` would have been resolved long ago!

It is indeed tragic that opportunities have been bungled continuously, ever since we did not bargain for the return of even ONE POW in exchange for 2000 we magnanimously released at the end of the 71 war. Thats all water under the bridge now, and historians will forever debate the wisdom of confining the issue of POW exchange to the separate `fronts` in the war.

Getting back to the issue at hand: I begin with an incontrovertable argument, repeated unceasingly by concerned parties:
``It is incredible that all the POWs have simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971 or soon after, and that absolutely no official evidence of their remnants exist``.

I know for a fact that bereaved family members cannot bear to imagine what the state of their loved ones would be (if still alive) after 34 yrs. The treatment meted to undertrials is horrific. Loved families left behind have been made to believe by well-meaning friends that the POWs could not have survived for so long. They have bravely and reluctanly got on with their lives.

That is the practical and caring advice I have myself offered to the suffering families.

Yet, this is only one part of the story, conveniently consigned to limbo to save the families from further pain. For the rest of us Indians, such disgraceful history which mocks patriotism, should not be buried without a thorough post-mortem. It must be unearthed, no matter how painful or embarrassing to the perhaps well-intentioned secrecy of the powers that be.

One could formulate a rational course of action by first analysing the Why`s of this secrecy, and then proceeding through our still credible judicial system, to reach the truth.

Let us accept, however reluctantly, that it was/is not sheer indifference by our govt for not having aggressively sought the release/wherebouts/remains/ashes of the missing POWs. The deception goes way back, over three decades. Most assuredly the records are missing (if at all they were recorded), so its no use blaming our present intelligence agencies for hiding the truth. Even when they have apparently tried their best, they claim to have reached dead-ends.

What however is most unforgiveable, is that a trail which was `provenly existent` in the case of some POWs for many years, was negligently, if not purposefully, allowed to gradually disappear. Now, decades later, the vapours gets life through stray and mostly silly rumours, that serve no purpose excepting to revive hurtful memories.

Through my studies on the subject, and I can only reasonably conjecture, that soon after the war, there was a deliberate `understanding` by India and Pakistan at the very highest levels, to keep all information on the missing POWs absolutely out of view till the picture clears. There are plausible grounds for this conjecture which `a select few in the know` are only privy to, and it is to them we must appeal to `open-up`. The embarrassing disclosures may have been `protected` within the frame-work of larger peace initiatives redifining boundaries within the subcontinent. The Simla peace talks between Indira Gandhi and Bhutto went very deep into shared confidences regarding the possibility of insurrections and further dismemberment of Pakistan. Future perspectives must have been informally and confidentially discussed/hinted at, in the back-drop of military elites plotting to unseat Bhutto. After the cease fire, its likely that in the confusion and anger among `uniformed` Pakistanis for losing the eastern wing, many POW undertrials were randomly scattered, without proper accounting, to remote jails. Even Bhutto may have been disinterested (too busy scheming to remain in power), as also being kept out of the loop by the military. This is not impossible. Bhutto claimed to have been disturbed by the screams of demented POWs sharing his prison when he was himself awaiting execution by the military dictatorship that unseated him. That could have been a clever ploy/red herring by him to get India involved to save his neck. Its quite another matter that we donot know what he did as PM himself after the war to resolve the POW issue!

One fact that can be reasonably surmised, is Pakistan would have been disgracefully exposed to the world for its treatment to POWs had any surviving POWs been returned. Top Indian `negotiators` in their own wisdom may have also felt that families of the missing POWs should be shielded from such ugliness. As is the case with any criminal activity, evidence is destroyed. Probably the POWs have also, inevitably and sadly, been fated to this end.

Subsequent Indian Govts, excepting for some maverick attempts, went along with the earlier ones as a matter of policy. Both sides have connived in obscuring the issue with platitudes and sheer noise. Pakistan`s conciliatory gestures are an eyewash, because for all practical purposes, the trail is covered up.

The above long discourse is to better inform international forums and active NGOs towards formulating an achievable twin-track course of action to meet practicable ends:

1. Previous participants in peace negotiations with Pakistan, and those with credible information (bureaucrats, military, politicians, advisors etc) must be informally persuaded through wide publicity/legally coerced with absolution from prosecution for any infringement of law (Official Secrets Act) into revealing all that they know. This is indisputably in the larger interest of human justice. The primary thrust of the legal argument keeping this subject worthwhile, is what was stated at the beginning of this missive:
``It is incredible that the POWs have all simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971, and that no evidence of their remnants exist``.
(A similar move could be informally initiated in Pakistan by the media and NGO`s. The spin-offs are substantial in furthering friendly relations between the two peoples of the present and future generations who carry no blame for past hostilities between the two nations).
Possibly there is a misconceived interpretation of what constitutes `secrecy out of compassion`, by those holding back. They must `speak out` now, even after 35 years, so that the wounds do not fester.
For sure it will be a long and protracted process as the facts are collated, for missing portions of history to get dispassionately updated. This is imperative for the faith of citizenry in democratic governance, and plain human decency.
I am not a legal expert, but I can suggest that active NGOs pursuing this matter `re-introduce` a well-defined PIL, as also petition our President.

2. Persuade Pakistan to actively cooperate in searching/rescuing/restoring any material that may have survived all these years. These should be handed over to the families through discreet NGOs

For this mission to succeed, the media `tamasha` MUST be kept totally out of this effort, till `after` it has been achieved. A guarantee of confidence to this effect must be made by all concerned. A vital and encouraging cog in bringing such a scheme to fruition is the President of Pakistan, General Musharraf. We must take him by his word when he claims that being a soldier himself, he is not devoid of compassion when it comes to the subject of the missing POWs. The General`s proactivity in facilitating this would immediatey ameliorate a small but vital portion of the pain by way of the sentimental memorablia being handed to the families of the missing POWs. He would deservedly earn our gratitude, and establish his image as a humane person.

I have noted on this blog-site the participation of many influential and concerned parties. I therefore hope the `message` reaches general Musharaff, because he HAS the power to help us realise what many would cynically dismiss as a `pipe-dream`..

With all hope
pushpa

Dear Farzana,

You have ended your passionate blog with a prophetic query,
`Does not the appeal, “Join the army” sound like a slap to the parents, since they have been told he is not in the records?`

I whole-heartedly subscribe to this as is apparent with the unpopularity of seeking a career in the armed forces by many bright, intelligent, and adventurous youth.

It was not so in the past. (Its important you see my profile).

The mystery of the missing 54 POWs should not be allowed to die a natural death. The sacrifice of these warriors must never be seen as being in vain by the present and future generations. If even a SINGLE politician`s or big industrialist`s or media baron`s immediate family member had been thus sacrificed, am certain the `great mystery` would have been resolved long ago!

It is indeed tragic that opportunities have been bungled continuously, ever since we did not bargain for the return of even ONE POW in exchange for 2000 we magnanimously released at the end of the 71 war. Thats all water under the bridge now, and historians will forever debate the wisdom of confining the issue of POW exchange to the separate `fronts` in the war.

Getting back to the issue at hand: I begin with an incontrovertable argument, repeated unceasingly by concerned parties:
``It is incredible that all the POWs have simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971 or soon after, and that absolutely no official evidence of their remnants exist``.

I know for a fact that bereaved family members cannot bear to imagine what the state of their loved ones would be (if still alive) after 34 yrs. The treatment meted to undertrials is horrific. Loved families left behind have been made to believe by well-meaning friends that the POWs could not have survived for so long. They have bravely and reluctanly got on with their lives.

That is the practical and caring advice I have myself offered to the suffering families.

Yet, this is only one part of the story, conveniently consigned to limbo to save the families from further pain. For the rest of us Indians, such disgraceful history which mocks patriotism, should not be buried without a thorough post-mortem. It must be unearthed, no matter how painful or embarrassing to the perhaps well-intentioned secrecy of the powers that be.

One could formulate a rational course of action by first analysing the Why`s of this secrecy, and then proceeding through our still credible judicial system, to reach the truth.

Let us accept, however reluctantly, that it was/is not sheer indifference by our govt for not having aggressively sought the release/wherebouts/remains/ashes of the missing POWs. The deception goes way back, over three decades. Most assuredly the records are missing (if at all they were recorded), so its no use blaming our present intelligence agencies for hiding the truth. Even when they have apparently tried their best, they claim to have reached dead-ends.

What however is most unforgiveable, is that a trail which was `provenly existent` in the case of some POWs for many years, was negligently, if not purposefully, allowed to gradually disappear. Now, decades later, the vapours gets life through stray and mostly silly rumours, that serve no purpose excepting to revive hurtful memories.

Through my studies on the subject, and I can only reasonably conjecture, that soon after the war, there was a deliberate `understanding` by India and Pakistan at the very highest levels, to keep all information on the missing POWs absolutely out of view till the picture clears. There are plausible grounds for this conjecture which `a select few in the know` are only privy to, and it is to them we must appeal to `open-up`. The embarrassing disclosures may have been `protected` within the frame-work of larger peace initiatives redifining boundaries within the subcontinent. The Simla peace talks between Indira Gandhi and Bhutto went very deep into shared confidences regarding the possibility of insurrections and further dismemberment of Pakistan. Future perspectives must have been informally and confidentially discussed/hinted at, in the back-drop of military elites plotting to unseat Bhutto. After the cease fire, its likely that in the confusion and anger among `uniformed` Pakistanis for losing the eastern wing, many POW undertrials were randomly scattered, without proper accounting, to remote jails. Even Bhutto may have been disinterested (too busy scheming to remain in power), as also being kept out of the loop by the military. This is not impossible. Bhutto claimed to have been disturbed by the screams of demented POWs sharing his prison when he was himself awaiting execution by the military dictatorship that unseated him. That could have been a clever ploy/red herring by him to get India involved to save his neck. Its quite another matter that we donot know what he did as PM himself after the war to resolve the POW issue!

One fact that can be reasonably surmised, is Pakistan would have been disgracefully exposed to the world for its treatment to POWs had any surviving POWs been returned. Top Indian `negotiators` in their own wisdom may have also felt that families of the missing POWs should be shielded from such ugliness. As is the case with any criminal activity, evidence is destroyed. Probably the POWs have also, inevitably and sadly, been fated to this end.

Subsequent Indian Govts, excepting for some maverick attempts, went along with the earlier ones as a matter of policy. Both sides have connived in obscuring the issue with platitudes and sheer noise. Pakistan`s conciliatory gestures are an eyewash, because for all practical purposes, the trail is covered up.

The above long discourse is to better inform international forums and active NGOs towards formulating an achievable twin-track course of action to meet practicable ends:

1. Previous participants in peace negotiations with Pakistan, and those with credible information (bureaucrats, military, politicians, advisors etc) must be informally persuaded through wide publicity/legally coerced with absolution from prosecution for any infringement of law (Official Secrets Act) into revealing all that they know. This is indisputably in the larger interest of human justice. The primary thrust of the legal argument keeping this subject worthwhile, is what was stated at the beginning of this missive:
``It is incredible that the POWs have all simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971, and that no evidence of their remnants exist``.
(A similar move could be informally initiated in Pakistan by the media and NGO`s. The spin-offs are substantial in furthering friendly relations between the two peoples of the present and future generations who carry no blame for past hostilities between the two nations).
Possibly there is a misconceived interpretation of what constitutes `secrecy out of compassion`, by those holding back. They must `speak out` now, even after 35 years, so that the wounds do not fester.
For sure it will be a long and protracted process as the facts are collated, for missing portions of history to get dispassionately updated. This is imperative for the faith of citizenry in democratic governance, and plain human decency.
I am not a legal expert, but I can suggest that active NGOs pursuing this matter `re-introduce` a well-defined PIL, as also petition our President.

2. Persuade Pakistan to actively cooperate in searching/rescuing/restoring any material that may have survived all these years. These should be handed over to the families through discreet NGOs

For this mission to succeed, the media `tamasha` MUST be kept totally out of this effort, till `after` it has been achieved. A guarantee of confidence to this effect must be made by all concerned. A vital and encouraging cog in bringing such a scheme to fruition is the President of Pakistan, General Musharraf. We must take him by his word when he claims that being a soldier himself, he is not devoid of compassion when it comes to the subject of the missing POWs. The General`s proactivity in facilitating this would immediatey ameliorate a small but vital portion of the pain by way of the sentimental memorablia being handed to the families of the missing POWs. He would deservedly earn our gratitude, and establish his image as a humane person.

I have noted on this blog-site the participation of many influential and concerned parties. I therefore hope the `message` reaches general Musharaff, because he HAS the power to help us realise what many would cynically dismiss as a `pipe-dream`..

With all hope
pushpa

Dear Farzana,

You have ended your passionate blog with a prophetic query,
`Does not the appeal, “Join the army” sound like a slap to the parents, since they have been told he is not in the records?`

I whole-heartedly subscribe to this as is apparent with the unpopularity of seeking a career in the armed forces by many bright, intelligent, and adventurous youth.

It was not so in the past. (Its important you see my profile).

The mystery of the missing 54 POWs should not be allowed to die a natural death. The sacrifice of these warriors must never be seen as being in vain by the present and future generations. If even a SINGLE politician`s or big industrialist`s or media baron`s immediate family member had been thus sacrificed, am certain the `great mystery` would have been resolved long ago!

It is indeed tragic that opportunities have been bungled continuously, ever since we did not bargain for the return of even ONE POW in exchange for 2000 we magnanimously released at the end of the 71 war. Thats all water under the bridge now, and historians will forever debate the wisdom of confining the issue of POW exchange to the separate `fronts` in the war.

Getting back to the issue at hand: I begin with an incontrovertable argument, repeated unceasingly by concerned parties:
``It is incredible that all the POWs have simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971 or soon after, and that absolutely no official evidence of their remnants exist``.

I know for a fact that bereaved family members cannot bear to imagine what the state of their loved ones would be (if still alive) after 34 yrs. The treatment meted to undertrials is horrific. Loved families left behind have been made to believe by well-meaning friends that the POWs could not have survived for so long. They have bravely and reluctanly got on with their lives.

That is the practical and caring advice I have myself offered to the suffering families.

Yet, this is only one part of the story, conveniently consigned to limbo to save the families from further pain. For the rest of us Indians, such disgraceful history which mocks patriotism, should not be buried without a thorough post-mortem. It must be unearthed, no matter how painful or embarrassing to the perhaps well-intentioned secrecy of the powers that be.

One could formulate a rational course of action by first analysing the Why`s of this secrecy, and then proceeding through our still credible judicial system, to reach the truth.

Let us accept, however reluctantly, that it was/is not sheer indifference by our govt for not having aggressively sought the release/wherebouts/remains/ashes of the missing POWs. The deception goes way back, over three decades. Most assuredly the records are missing (if at all they were recorded), so its no use blaming our present intelligence agencies for hiding the truth. Even when they have apparently tried their best, they claim to have reached dead-ends.

What however is most unforgiveable, is that a trail which was `provenly existent` in the case of some POWs for many years, was negligently, if not purposefully, allowed to gradually disappear. Now, decades later, the vapours gets life through stray and mostly silly rumours, that serve no purpose excepting to revive hurtful memories.

Through my studies on the subject, and I can only reasonably conjecture, that soon after the war, there was a deliberate `understanding` by India and Pakistan at the very highest levels, to keep all information on the missing POWs absolutely out of view till the picture clears. There are plausible grounds for this conjecture which `a select few in the know` are only privy to, and it is to them we must appeal to `open-up`. The embarrassing disclosures may have been `protected` within the frame-work of larger peace initiatives redifining boundaries within the subcontinent. The Simla peace talks between Indira Gandhi and Bhutto went very deep into shared confidences regarding the possibility of insurrections and further dismemberment of Pakistan. Future perspectives must have been informally and confidentially discussed/hinted at, in the back-drop of military elites plotting to unseat Bhutto. After the cease fire, its likely that in the confusion and anger among `uniformed` Pakistanis for losing the eastern wing, many POW undertrials were randomly scattered, without proper accounting, to remote jails. Even Bhutto may have been disinterested (too busy scheming to remain in power), as also being kept out of the loop by the military. This is not impossible. Bhutto claimed to have been disturbed by the screams of demented POWs sharing his prison when he was himself awaiting execution by the military dictatorship that unseated him. That could have been a clever ploy/red herring by him to get India involved to save his neck. Its quite another matter that we donot know what he did as PM himself after the war to resolve the POW issue!

One fact that can be reasonably surmised, is Pakistan would have been disgracefully exposed to the world for its treatment to POWs had any surviving POWs been returned. Top Indian `negotiators` in their own wisdom may have also felt that families of the missing POWs should be shielded from such ugliness. As is the case with any criminal activity, evidence is destroyed. Probably the POWs have also, inevitably and sadly, been fated to this end.

Subsequent Indian Govts, excepting for some maverick attempts, went along with the earlier ones as a matter of policy. Both sides have connived in obscuring the issue with platitudes and sheer noise. Pakistan`s conciliatory gestures are an eyewash, because for all practical purposes, the trail is covered up.

The above long discourse is to better inform international forums and active NGOs towards formulating an achievable twin-track course of action to meet practicable ends:

1. Previous participants in peace negotiations with Pakistan, and those with credible information (bureaucrats, military, politicians, advisors etc) must be informally persuaded through wide publicity/legally coerced with absolution from prosecution for any infringement of law (Official Secrets Act) into revealing all that they know. This is indisputably in the larger interest of human justice. The primary thrust of the legal argument keeping this subject worthwhile, is what was stated at the beginning of this missive:
``It is incredible that the POWs have all simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971, and that no evidence of their remnants exist``.
(A similar move could be informally initiated in Pakistan by the media and NGO`s. The spin-offs are substantial in furthering friendly relations between the two peoples of the present and future generations who carry no blame for past hostilities between the two nations).
Possibly there is a misconceived interpretation of what constitutes `secrecy out of compassion`, by those holding back. They must `speak out` now, even after 35 years, so that the wounds do not fester.
For sure it will be a long and protracted process as the facts are collated, for missing portions of history to get dispassionately updated. This is imperative for the faith of citizenry in democratic governance, and plain human decency.
I am not a legal expert, but I can suggest that active NGOs pursuing this matter `re-introduce` a well-defined PIL, as also petition our President.

2. Persuade Pakistan to actively cooperate in searching/rescuing/restoring any material that may have survived all these years. These should be handed over to the families through discreet NGOs

For this mission to succeed, the media `tamasha` MUST be kept totally out of this effort, till `after` it has been achieved. A guarantee of confidence to this effect must be made by all concerned. A vital and encouraging cog in bringing such a scheme to fruition is the President of Pakistan, General Musharraf. We must take him by his word when he claims that being a soldier himself, he is not devoid of compassion when it comes to the subject of the missing POWs. The General`s proactivity in facilitating this would immediatey ameliorate a small but vital portion of the pain by way of the sentimental memorablia being handed to the families of the missing POWs. He would deservedly earn our gratitude, and establish his image as a humane person.

I have noted on this blog-site the participation of many influential and concerned parties. I therefore hope the `message` reaches general Musharaff, because he HAS the power to help us realise what many would cynically dismiss as a `pipe-dream`..

With all hope
pushpa

i wish i cud explain how deeply i was moved by the fact that many people have wasted their lives in dark prisons as nameless prisoners......three decades is a long time i keep wondering what happened...and i didnt even know that prisoners from 1971 war are still imprisoned......insane attitude of the goverments.......thanx for this information........
Ammara

Anny behanji, maufi chahta hoon. Aap mujhe thappad mat mariye. However, I don`t see any reason to apologize to YLH. He is hypersensitive and that makes him stupid. If you see he hogs 40% of all message space. He can`t make his point and bad mouths everybody who disagrees with him. I have to call a spade a spade.

YLH, you painted a very contrived picture of Jinnah. If you want I can paint you a picture of the devil where he is kindness personified.

How about the following scenario? Don`t you think the following is much more plausible. Jinnah was a power hungry politician. First he tried to share power projecting himself as a secular leader. When that didn`t help he resorted to communalism. That is easily explained by the death of half a million people because of his insistence on partitioning India. If he was really so caring about minorities would he have wanted Pakistan at the cost of million lives. He cared two hoots for minorities and that very well comes out from how the minorities have been wiped out from Pakistan.

You can scream all you want, but you will never be able to explain how at 1947 Pakistan started out with 10% minorities and has reduced them to 2% in 1990.

If Hindus were really as cruel as you say the minorities wouldn`t have increased from 15% in 1947 to the current 20%.

I am sorry that Pakistan has been spawned by the devil himself. But that can`t be an excuse to post zillions of posts that go nowhere.

Ref wholly-precious-you #: 214

[``2 Lower your standards.``

...yes, but zafarsaab, how low can we go?...]

While not recommending it, the name of Ali1 comes to mind as being as low as one can get.

come now zafarsaab

ure not ugly..anything but

Zafarsaab:

``I am old enough, and ugly enough, to know when the writing becomes illegible (aka one of those questions there is NO faida in answering - sort of like ``so, is this slimming`` if you will excuse the corny stereotype...)

Aap ne kya likkha? I`m sorry, eyesight fading...``

....no faida, huh?...:)

Reply RSax, Semietc. Sadna

Reply semipreciousme # 214

``2 Lower your standards.``

``...yes, but zafarsaab, how low can we go?...``

I am old enough, and ugly enough, to know when the writing becomes illegible (aka one of those questions there is NO faida in answering - sort of like ``so, is this slimming`` if you will excuse the corny stereotype...)

Aap ne kya likkha? I`m sorry, eyesight fading...

Reply RSax#: 213

``...plus, convertibles have no backseat ;)``

Jee haan, aur backseats se aap ko kya? Keep this up dude and I am writing about you in samna

Reply Sadna

Yes - indeed - but the point is once you`ve got the bucks you can pay someone else to move it around for you...but then, what`s the point of a convertable if you can`t enjoy hooning around in it yourself, I say?

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