75-457: Jaisalmer Fort is situated in the city of Jaisalmer , in the Indian state of Rajasthan . It is one of the very few "living forts" in the world (such as Carcassonne , France ), as nearly one fourth of the old city's population still resides within the fort. For the better part of its 860-year history, the fort was the city of Jaisalmer. The first settlements outside the fort walls, to accommodate
150-557: A phenomenal growth in both human and vehicular traffic. Major restoration work has been undertaken by the World Monuments Fund and UK based charity Jaisalmer in Jeopardy. According to former INTACH chairman S.K. Misra, American Express has provided more than $ 1 million for the conservation of Jaisalmer Fort. The absence of coordinated action among the various government departments responsible for civic amenities,
225-638: A rapid offensive easier. By early to mid December, the Himalayan passes would be closed by snow, limiting China's ability to intervene. The news media's mood in Pakistan had turned increasingly jingoistic and militaristic against East Pakistan and India when the Pakistani news media reported the complexity of the situation in the East, though the reactions from Pakistan's news media pundits were mixed. By
300-455: A resident population of about 4,000 people who are largely descended from the Brahmin and Rajput communities. These two communities once served as the workforce for the fort's one time Bhati rulers, which service then entitled the workers to reside on the hilltop and within the walls of the fort. With the slow increase in the area's population, many of the town's residents gradually relocated to
375-514: A result of the conflict, a further eight to ten million people fled the country to seek refuge in India. During the 1971 Bangladesh war for independence , members of the Pakistani military and supporting pro-Pakistani Islamist militias called the Razakars raped between 200,000 and 400,000 Bangladeshi women and girls in a systematic campaign of genocidal rape . The Indo-Pakistani conflict
450-471: A royal palace and several ornate Jain temples . Many of the houses and temples of both the fort and of the town below are built of finely sculptured yellow sandstone. The town has a population, including the residents of the fort, of about 78,000. Jaisalmer ranked 9th on Booking.com 's Top 10 The Most Welcoming cities in the world. It is the only Indian city on the list. Jaisalmer was founded by Jaisal Singh, popularly known as Rawal Jaisal , in 1156 AD. It
525-496: A single province in 1970, in order to restore it to its original heterogeneous status comprising four provinces , as defined at the time of establishment of Pakistan in 1947. In addition, there were religious and racial tensions between Bengalis and the multi-ethnic West Pakistanis, as Bengalis looked different from the dominant West Pakistanis. The East Pakistan's Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stressed his political position by presenting his Six Points and endorsing
600-482: Is around 40 °C (104 °F) while the minimum is 25 °C (77 °F). The maximum winter temperature is usually around 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) and the minimum is −5 °C (23 °F). The average rainfall is 256.5 millimetres (10.10 in). The highest ever recorded temperature was 50.0 °C (122.0 °F); the lowest ever recorded temperature being −5.9 °C (21.4 °F). Temperatures of up to 52.4 °C (126.3 °F) have been recorded near
675-1985: Is connected to Delhi and other cities all over India. This station comes under Jodhpur (JU) division of the Northwestern Railway (NWR). Additionally, there exists a luxury tourist train known as Palace on Wheels , which covers the major tourist destinations of Rajasthan, including Jaisalmer. Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Eastern Front: Western Front: [REDACTED] Indira Gandhi [REDACTED] Swaran Singh [REDACTED] Sam Manekshaw [REDACTED] J.S. Arora [REDACTED] G.G. Bewoor [REDACTED] Sagat Singh [REDACTED] J. F. R. Jacob [REDACTED] S. M. Nanda [REDACTED] S. N. Kohli [REDACTED] Nilakanta Krishnan [REDACTED] Pratap C. Lal [REDACTED] H. C. Dewan [REDACTED] Sheikh Mujibur Rahman [REDACTED] M. A. G. Osmani [REDACTED] Yahya Khan [REDACTED] A.A.K. Niazi [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Rao Farman [REDACTED] Tikka Khan [REDACTED] Iftikhar Janjua † [REDACTED] Muzaffar Hassan [REDACTED] Rashid Ahmed [REDACTED] Md Shariff [REDACTED] [REDACTED] M.A.K. Lodhi [REDACTED] Leslie Norman [REDACTED] Abdul Rahim Khan [REDACTED] Inamul Haq [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Z.A. Khan [REDACTED] Indian Armed Forces : 825,000 – 860,000 Pakistan Armed Forces : 350,000 – 365,000 [REDACTED] India 2,500 –3,843 killed 9,851 –12,000 injured Neutral claims Indian claims Pakistani claims [REDACTED] Pakistan 9,000 killed 25,000 wounded 93,000 captured 2 destroyers 1 Minesweeper } 1 Submarine 3 Patrol vessels 7 gunboats Neutral claims Indian claims Pakistani claims Systematic events § indicates events in
750-479: Is named after its founder, with "Jaisal" representing the king's name and "Mer" signifying a fort. So, it means "The Fort of Jaisal", emphasising the city's historic fortification and its royal heritage. The term "Mer" or "Meru" is of Sanskrit origin, signifying a mountain or a high, prominent place, and it has been historically used in the names of various geographical features and landmarks, like Ajmer . The state of Jaisalmer had its foundations in what remains of
825-457: Is the most awaited and famous cultural and colourful event of Rajasthan. Camel races, Turban-tying and Mr. Desert competitions are organised. It is held in the month of February every year. The festival showcases Rajasthani folk songs and dance and it is very attractive to foreign tourists. Gair and Fire dancers which are the major attraction of the Jaisalmer desert festival celebrations. This is
SECTION 10
#1732798101190900-583: Is today located along the southern edge of the city that bears its name; its dominant hilltop location making the sprawling towers of its fortifications visible for many miles around. In 2013, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh , Cambodia , Jaisalmer Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan . Legend has it that
975-499: The Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress), a detective novel, based on the fort and he later filmed it here. The film became a classic and a large number of tourists from Bengal and around the world visit the fort annually to experience for themselves the world that Ray portrayed in the movie. Six forts of Rajasthan, namely, Amber Fort , Chittor Fort , Gagron Fort , Jaisalmer Fort, Kumbhalgarh and Ranthambore Fort were included in
1050-611: The Mukti Bahini , consisting of a conventional force and a guerilla force, was formed under the retired colonel Mohammad Ataul Gani Osmani . There was also a meeting between Prime Minister Gandhi and President Nixon in November 1971, where she rejected the US advice against intervening in the conflict. After the resignations of Admiral S.M. Ahsan and Lieutenant-General Yaqub Ali Khan, the media correspondents began airing reports of
1125-555: The Pakistani capitulation in Dhaka on 16 December 1971. The war began with Pakistan's Operation Chengiz Khan , consisting of preemptive aerial strikes on eight Indian air stations . The strikes led to India declaring war on Pakistan, marking their entry into the war for East Pakistan's independence, on the side of Bengali nationalist forces . India's entry expanded the existing conflict with Indian and Pakistani forces engaging on both
1200-642: The UNESCO World Heritage Site list during the 37th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh during June 2013. They were recognized as a serial cultural property and examples of Rajput military hill architecture. The Jaisalmer Fort today faces manifold threats that are a result of the increasing population pressure on it. Water seepage, inadequate civic amenities, derelict houses and seismic activity around
1275-514: The Bengali domination and prevent formation of the central government in Islamabad , the controversial One Unit programme established the two wings of East and West Pakistan . West Pakistanis' opposition to these efforts made it difficult to effectively govern both wings. In 1969, President Yahya Khan announced the first general elections and disestablished the status of West Pakistan as
1350-655: The Bengalis to draft the constitution based on the six-points and liberalism. To resolve the crisis, the Admiral Ahsan Mission was formed to provide recommendations. Its findings were met with favourable reviews from the political leaders of West Pakistan, with the exception of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party. However, the military top brass vetoed the mission's proposal. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto endorsed
1425-635: The Bengalis' right to govern. The 1970 Pakistani general election , resulted in Awami League gaining 167 out of 169 seats for the East Pakistan Legislative Assembly , and a near- absolute majority in the 313-seat National Assembly , while the vote in West Pakistan was mostly won by the socialist Pakistan Peoples Party . The League's election success caused many West Pakistanis to fear that it would allow
1500-576: The Bhati rulers of Multhan, because they wanted to end the slave raids made by the Turkic ruler of Ghazni, however the alliance was defeated by Alp Tigin in 977 CE. Bhati dominions continued to be shifted towards the South as they ruled Multan, then finally got pushed into Cholistan and Jaisalmer where Rawal Devaraja built Dera Rawal / Derawar . Jaisalmer was the new capital founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal and
1575-540: The Empire ruled by the Bhati dynasty. Early Bhati rulers ruled over large empire stretching from Ghazni in modern-day Afghanistan to Sialkot , Lahore and Rawalpindi in modern-day Pakistan to Bhatinda , Muktsar and Hanumangarh in modern-day India. The empire crumbled over time because of continuous invasions from Central Asia. According to Satish Chandra, the Hindu Shahis of Afghanistan made an alliance with
SECTION 20
#17327981011901650-523: The Indian Chief of Army Staff Gen Sam Manekshaw if he was ready to go to war with Pakistan. According to Manekshaw's own personal account, he refused, citing the onset of monsoon season in East Pakistan and also the fact that the army tanks were being refitted. He offered his resignation, which Gandhi declined. He then said he could guarantee victory if she would allow him to prepare for
1725-479: The Indian army conducted multiple incursions into East Pakistani territory, generally withdrawing to India after completing their mission. From 21 November, however, Indian forces with Mukti Bahini support entered East Pakistan and remained there in preparation for a formal war that India expected to launch on 6 December. An Indian-Pakistani war seemed inevitable. The Soviet Union reportedly warned Pakistan against
1800-601: The Indian refugee camps for recruitment and training of Mukti Bahini guerrillas that were to be trained against Pakistan. By November 1971, the Indian military was providing direct fire against Pakistani troops and even made several incursions into Pakistani territory. Indian authorities also attempted to carry on psychological warfare and keep up the morale of comrades in East Pakistan. The Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (Free Bangladesh Radio Centre), which had broadcast Major Rahman's independence declaration,
1875-544: The Pakistan Armed Forces, including some Bengali soldiers who had remained loyal to Pakistan. The remaining 10,324 to 12,500 prisoners were civilians, either family members of the military personnel or collaborators ( Razakars ). It is estimated that members of the Pakistani military and supporting pro-Pakistani Islamist militias killed between 300,000 and 3,000,000 civilians in Bangladesh. As
1950-496: The Pakistani border, but the standard conditions of this temperature recording remain unverified. According to the 2011 census, Jaisalmer had a population of 65,471. Around 90% of the population is Hindu, 8.20% is Muslim and the remaining are Sikhs, Christians, and Jains. Tourism is a major industry in Jaisalmer. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on renewable energy in the region. Jaisalmer has been home to various wind and solar energy projects, taking advantage of
2025-529: The Pakistani forces under the command of Brig Mohammad Mumtaz Khan advanced towards the village of Hussainiwala with 2000 troops and artillery support. The Indian side had deployed one battalion, 15 Punjab, under the command of Lt Col Shastry comprising 900 soldiers with support from the IAF. The 15 Punjab could not hold the village and had to retreat on 4 December towards the fortress called Kaiser-i-Hind outside Hussainiwala. The Indian forces were eventually pushed from
2100-598: The Pakistani military's widespread genocide against their Bengali citizens, particularly aimed at the minority Bengali Hindu population, which led to approximately 10 million people seeking refuge in the neighbouring states of Eastern India. The Indian government opened the East Pakistan–India border to allow the Bengali refugees to find safe shelter; the governments of West Bengal , Bihar , Assam , Meghalaya and Tripura established refugee camps along
2175-632: The Trikuta Hill are some of the major concerns impacting the fort. Unlike most other forts, the Jaisalmer Fort has been built over a weak sedimentary rock foothill which makes its foundations especially vulnerable to seepage. Over the years this has led to the collapse of significant portions of the fort such as the Queen's Palace or Rani Ka Mahal and parts of the outer boundary wall and the lower pitching walls. The World Monuments Fund included
2250-557: The academic disciplines of civil and mechanical engineering in the state. After the departure of the British from India in 1947, Jawahir Singh signed an Instrument of Accession to the new Union of India , while retaining some internal autonomy until the 1950s. Jaisalmer, being an arid desert region, is prone to extremes in terms of temperature. It borders on a hot semi arid climate. The temperature varies greatly from day to night in both summer and winter. The maximum summer temperature
2325-531: The administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer district . It is a former medieval trading center and the historic capital of the kingdom of Jaisalmer , founded in 1156 by Rawal Jaisal of the Bhati clan of Rajputs . Jaisalmer stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone and is crowned by the World Heritage Site , Jaisalmer Fort , a sprawling hilltop citadel supported by 99 bastions. This fort contains
Jaisalmer Fort - Misplaced Pages Continue
2400-524: The air strikes were a declaration of war against India and the Indian Air Force (IAF) responded with initial air strikes the same night. These expanded to massive retaliatory air strikes the next morning. This air action marked the start of all-out war; Gandhi ordered the mobilisation of troops and launched a full-scale invasion of East Pakistan. This involved Indian forces in coordinated air , sea and land assaults. The main Indian objective on
2475-459: The ample sunlight and wind resources in the desert. The Government of India initiated departmental exploration for oil in 1955–56 in the Jaisalmer area. Oil India Limited discovered natural gas in 1988 in the Jaisalmer basin . Musicians and dancers are also a major cultural export from Jaisalmer to the rest of the world. Manganiyar musicians have played the world over, and Queen Harish ,
2550-501: The best time to visit Jaisalmer to witness performing arts like Kalbelia dances and folk songs and music. Jaisalmer is connected to the rest of Rajasthan by buses provided by Rajasthan State Transport Corporation as well as other private bus operators. Jaisalmer Airport is located 17 kilometres southeast of Jaisalmer. Flights serve Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Surat and Jodhpur. Jaisalmer railway station runs daily trains between Jaisalmer and Jaipur, through which it
2625-527: The border. The resulting flood of impoverished East Pakistani refugees strained India's already overburdened economy. The Indian government repeatedly appealed to the international community for assistance, but failed to elicit any response, despite the External Affairs minister Swaran Singh meeting foreign ministers of other countries. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 27 March 1971 concluded that instead of taking in millions of refugees, it
2700-591: The capture of around 15,010 km (5,795 sq mi) of Pakistani territory; this land gained by India in Azad Kashmir , Punjab and Sindh sectors was later ceded in the Simla Agreement of 1972, as a gesture of goodwill Casualties inflicted to Pakistan Army's I Corps , II Corps , and Pakistan Marines' Punjab detachment were very high, and many soldiers and marines perished due to lack of operational planning and lack of coordination within
2775-435: The conflict on his terms, and set a date for it; Gandhi accepted his conditions. In reality, Gandhi was well aware of the difficulties of a hasty military action, but she needed to get the military's views to satisfy her hawkish colleagues and the public opinion, which were critical of India's restraint. By mid July, India had settled on a plan of attack. The ground in the East would be drier by mid November, which would make
2850-640: The conservative print media outlets in the country had published jihad related materials to boost the recruitment in the military. On the evening of 3 December, at about 17:35, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched surprise pre-emptive strikes on eight Indian airfields, including Agra , which was 480 kilometres (300 mi) from the border. At the time of the attack, the Taj Mahal had been camouflaged with lots of twigs and leaves and draped with burlap, because its marble glowed prominently in
2925-418: The continued strategic importance of Jaisalmer was demonstrated during the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan. Even though the town of Jaisalmer no longer serves as an important trading city, or as a major military post, the town is still able to earn revenues as a major tourist destination. Initially, the entire population of Jaisalmer lived within the fort, and today the old fort still retains
3000-477: The dancing desert drag queen, has toured the world over and has featured in international movies. Jaisalmer is also known for its leather messenger bags , made from wild camels native to the area. Built in 1156 by the Bhati Rajput ruler Jaisal, Jaisalmer Fort , situated on Meru Hill and named as Trikoot Garh has been the scene of many battles. Its massive sandstone walls are a pale yellow colour during
3075-625: The day, turning to a darker gold as the sun sets. The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray wrote a detective novel and later turned it into a film − Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress) which was based on this fort. About a quarter of city's population still live inside the fort. The main attractions inside the fort are the Raj Mahal (Royal palace ), Jain temples and the Laxminath temple. A number of ornate buildings in Jaisalmer were built by its Jain community , including temples , notably
Jaisalmer Fort - Misplaced Pages Continue
3150-501: The death of Mulraj in 1820, his grandson Gaj Singh inherited control of the fort. With the advent of British rule , the emergence of maritime trade and the growth of the port of Bombay led to the gradual economic decline of Jaisalmer. After independence and the Partition of India , the ancient trade route was totally closed, thus permanently removing the city from its former role of importance in international commerce. Nonetheless,
3225-586: The east. On 26 March 1971, Major Ziaur Rahman of the Pakistan Army declared the independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In April, the exiled Awami League leaders formed a government-in-exile in Baidyanathtala of Meherpur . The East Pakistan Rifles and Bengali officers in Pakistan's army , navy , and marines , defected to the rebellion after taking refuge in different parts of India. The Bangladesh Force, namely
3300-672: The eastern and western fronts. Thirteen days after the war started, India achieved a clear upper hand, and the Eastern Command of the Pakistan military signed the instrument of surrender on 16 December 1971 in Dhaka, marking the formation of East Pakistan as the new nation of Bangladesh . Approximately 93,000 Pakistani servicemen were taken prisoner by the Indian Army , which included 79,676 to 81,000 uniformed personnel of
3375-603: The eastern front was to capture Dacca, and on the western front to contain Pakistani forces. The Indian army was better equipped than the Pakistanis and enjoyed significant numerical superiority over them. Pakistan launched a ground offensive on the western front. Major ground attacks were concentrated on the western border by the Pakistan Army but the Indian Army was successful in penetrating into Pakistani soil. It eventually made some quick and initial gains, including
3450-422: The economic decline but the dramatic reduction in trade impoverished the kingdom. A severe drought and the resulting famine from 1895 to 1900, during the reign of Salivahan Singh, only made matters worse by causing widespread loss of the livestock that the increasingly agriculturally based kingdom relied upon. The attempts of Jawahir Singh (1914–1949) at modernisation were also not entirely successful in turning
3525-575: The end of September 1971, a propaganda campaign, possibly orchestrated by elements within the government of Pakistan , resulted in stickers endorsing " Crush India " becoming a standard feature on the rear windows of vehicles in Rawalpindi , Islamabad and Lahore ; this soon spread to the rest of West Pakistan. By October, other stickers proclaimed Hang the Traitor in an apparent reference to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. From mid October to 20 November,
3600-465: The end of the siege, facing certain defeat, the Bhati Rajput women committed ' Jauhar ', and the male warriors under the command of Mularaja met their fatal end in battle with the Sultan's forces. For a few years after the successful siege, the fort remained under the sway of Delhi Sultanate , before being eventually reoccupied by some surviving Bhatis. During Rawal Lunakaran's reign, around 1530–1551 CE,
3675-427: The foot of the Trikuta Hill. From there the town's population has since largely spread out well beyond the old walls of the fort, and into the adjacent valley below. The fort is 1,500 ft (460 m) long and 750 ft (230 m) wide and is built on a hill that raises above a height of 250 ft (76 m) above the surrounding countryside. The base of the fort has a 15 ft (4.6 m) tall wall forming
3750-431: The fort in its 1996 World Monuments Watch and again in the 1998 and 2000 reports due to the threats posed to it by an increase in its resident population and the increasing numbers of tourists who visit it every year. The fort is one of Rajasthan 's most popular tourist attractions with as many as five to six hundred thousand tourists visiting it annually. As a result, it is abuzz with commercial activities and has seen
3825-468: The fort was attacked by an Afghan chief Amir Ali. When it seemed to the Rawal that he was fighting a losing battle, he slaughtered his womenfolk as there was insufficient time to arrange a jauhar . Tragically, reinforcements arrived immediately after the deed was done and the army of Jaisalmer became victorious in its defence of the fort. In 1541 CE, Rawal Lunakaran also fought Mughal emperor Humayun when
SECTION 50
#17327981011903900-485: The fort was built by Rawal Jaisal , a Bhati Rajput, in 1156 CE. The story says that it superseded an earlier construction at Lodhruva , with which Jaisal was unsatisfied and thus, a new capital was established when Jaisal founded the city of Jaisalmer. Around 1299 CE, Rawal Jait Singh I faced a long siege by Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate , who is said to have been provoked by a Bhati raid on his treasure caravan. By
3975-455: The fort's outermost ring, within its triple ringed defence architecture. The fort's upper bastions or towers form a defensive inner-wall perimeter that is about 2.5 mi (4.0 km) long. The fort now incorporates 99 bastions, of which 92 were built or substantially rebuilt between the period of 1633–47. The fort also has four fortified entrances or gates from the townside, one of which was once guarded by cannon. Other points of interest within
4050-458: The fort's walls and grounds include: The fort has an ingenious drainage system called the ghut nali which allows for the easy drainage of rainwater away from the fort in all four directions of the fort. Over the years, haphazard construction activities and building of new roads has greatly reduced its effectiveness. The fort has numerous eateries, including Italian, French and native cuisines . The famous Indian film director Satyajit Ray wrote
4125-504: The government, and dissidents in the East began targeting the ethnic Bihari community, which largely supported West Pakistan. In early March 1971, approximately 300 Biharis were slaughtered in riots by Bengali mobs in Chittagong alone. The Government of Pakistan used the "Bihari massacre" to justify its deployment of the military in East Pakistan on 25 March, when it initiated its military crackdown . President Yahya Khan called on
4200-478: The growing population of Jaisalmer, are said to have come up in the 17th century. Jaisalmer Fort is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan, built in 1156 AD by the Rawal (ruler) Jaisal from whom it derives its name, and stood at the crossroads of important trade routes (including the ancient Silk road ). The fort's massive yellow sandstone walls are a tawny lion colour during the day, fading to honey-gold as
4275-686: The internal resistance movement linked to the Indo-Pakistani War. ‡ indicates events in the Indo-Pakistani War linked to the internal resistance movement in Bangladesh. Other conflicts Border skirmishes Strikes The Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 , also known as the third India-Pakistan war , was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 until
4350-489: The kingdom's economy around, and the drylands of Jaisalmer remained backward compared with other regions of Rajputana , especially the neighbouring state of Jodhpur . Nonetheless, the extensive water storage and supply, sanitation, and health infrastructures developed in the 1930s by the prime minister Brijmohan Nath Zutshi provided significant relief during the severe droughts of 1941 and 1951. During 1930–1947, Jawahir Singh and his ministers also promoted technical education and
4425-545: The latter attacked the fort on his way to Ajmer. He also offered his daughter in marriage to Akbar. Mughals controlled the fort until 1762. The fort remained under the control of Mughals until 1762, when Maharawal Mulraj took control of the fort. The treaty between the East India Company and Mulraj on 12 December 1818 allowed the Mulraj to retain control of the fort and provided for protection from invasion. After
4500-563: The local municipality and the Archaeological Survey that is responsible for the upkeep of the fort is a major impediment in its maintenance and restoration. Jaisalmer Jaisalmer (pronunciation) , nicknamed The Golden city , is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan , located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west of the state capital Jaipur , in the heart of the Thar Desert . It serves as
4575-467: The marine-army formations against Indian Army's Southern and Western Commands . By the time the war came to end, the army soldiers and marines were highly demoralised– both emotionally and psychologically– on the western front and had no will to put up a defensive fight against the approaching Indian Army soldiers. On 3 December, after the air strike carried out by the PAF, the 106 Infantry Brigade of
SECTION 60
#17327981011904650-423: The mass protests in 1969. These led to the resignation of President Ayub Khan , who invited army chief General Yahya Khan to take over the central government . The geographical distance between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan was vast; East Pakistan lay over 1,600 kilometres (1,000 mi) away, which greatly hampered any attempt to integrate the Bengali and the Pakistani cultures. To overcome
4725-471: The military – which was overwhelmingly led by West Pakistanis – to suppress dissent in the East, after accepting the resignation of Lieutenant-General Yaqub Ali Khan , the chief of staff of the East-Pakistani military . Mass arrests of dissidents began and, after several days of strikes and non-cooperation , the Pakistani military, led by Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan , cracked down on Dhaka on
4800-545: The moonlight. These pre-emptive strikes, known as Operation Chengiz Khan , were inspired by the success of Israeli Operation Focus in the Arab–Israeli Six-Day War . Unlike the Israeli attack on Arab airbases in 1967, which involved a large number of Israeli planes, Pakistan flew too few planes to inflict significant damage. In an address to the nation on radio that same evening, Prime Minister Gandhi held that
4875-465: The night of 25 March 1971. The government outlawed the Awami League, which forced many of its members and sympathisers into refuge in Eastern India . Mujib was arrested on the night of 25/26 March 1971 at about 1:30 am (as per Radio Pakistan's news on 29 March 1971) and taken to West Pakistan. Operation Searchlight , followed by Operation Barisal , attempted to kill the intellectual elite of
4950-551: The state took its name from the capital. On 11 December 1818 Jaisalmer became a British protectorate in the Rajputana Agency . Traditionally, in the Middle Ages, the main source of income for the kingdom was levies on caravans , but the economy was heavily affected when Bombay emerged as a major port and sea trade replaced the traditional land routes. Ranjit Singh and Bairi Sal Singh attempted to turn around
5025-521: The sun sets, thereby camouflaging the fort in the yellow desert. For this reason it is also known as the Swarn Durg, Sonar Quila or Golden Fort . The name Sonar Quila (Bengali for Golden Fortress) was popularized by tourists after famous Bengali film of the same name , that was shot in this fort by eminent filmmaker Satyajit Ray . The fort stands amidst the sandy expanse of the great Thar Desert on Trikuta Hill, hence also known as Trikutgarh . It
5100-544: The temples dedicated to the 16th Tirthankara , Shantinath , and 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanath . There are seven Jain temples in total which are situated within the Jaisalmer fort built during the 12th and 15th centuries. Among these temples, the biggest is the Paraswanath Temple ; the others are Chandraprabhu temple , Rishabdev temple , Shitalnath Temple , Kunthunath Temple , and Shantinath Temple . Known for their exquisite work of art and architecture that
5175-487: The veto, and subsequently refused to yield the premiership of Pakistan to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . The Awami League called for general strikes in the country. President Yahya Khan postponed the inauguration of the National Assembly, causing disillusionment with the Awami League and their supporters throughout East Pakistan. In reaction, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for general strikes that eventually shut down
5250-458: The war , which they termed as "suicidal course for Pakistan's unity." Despite this warning, in November 1971, thousands of people led by conservative Pakistani politicians marched in Lahore and across Pakistan, calling for Pakistan to "crush India". On 23 November, President Yahya Khan declared a national state of emergency and told the country to prepare for war. By the first week of December,
5325-603: Was economical to go to war against Pakistan, and expressed full support of her government for the independence struggle of the people of East Pakistan. On 28 April 1971, the Union cabinet ordered the Chief of the Army Staff General Sam Manekshaw to "Go into East Pakistan". Defected East Pakistan military officers and the elements of Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) immediately started using
5400-417: Was predominant in the medieval era the temples are built out of yellow sandstone and have intricate engravings on them. Jaisalmer has some of the oldest libraries of India which contain the rarest of the manuscripts and artefacts of Jain tradition. There are many pilgrimage centres around Jaisalmer such as Lodhurva Jain temple (Lodarva), Amarsagar, Brahmsar and Pokharan . Desert Festival of Jaisalmer
5475-513: Was relocated from Kalurghat in East Pakistan to India after the transmission building was shelled by Pakistani Sabre jets on 30 March 1971. It resumed broadcasts on 3 April from Tripura, aided by the Indian Border Security Force . The clandestine station was finally shifted to Kolkata , where it was joined by a large number of Bangladeshi radio programmers, newscasters, poets, singers and journalists. Its jurisdiction
5550-529: Was sparked by the Bangladesh Liberation War , a conflict between the traditionally dominant West Pakistanis and the majority East Pakistanis. The political tensions between East Bengal and West Pakistan had its origin in the creation of Pakistan as a result of the partition of India by the United Kingdom in 1947; the popular language movement in 1950; mass riots in East Bengal in 1964; and
5625-443: Was transferred to the provisional Bangladesh government-in-exile, and made its first broadcast on 25 May, the birth anniversary of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam (who would later be named Bangladesh's national poet ). Among the Indian contributors to the radio station's nationalistic programmes was Salil Chowdhury . Akashvani Kolkata also actively took part in this effort. By the end of April 1971, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had asked
#189810