Kolkata, 10 May (H.S.) -As tensions escalate once again between India and Pakistan, memories of the decisive 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh are resurfacing. One of the most decorated veterans of that war, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Arun Roy, who served in the Indian Army for 44 years and retired as a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC) in 2006, has shared vivid recollections of that historic conflict—particularly his experience in the fierce Chamb sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
Now 79, Lt Gen Roy served as the Adjutant of the 8 J&K Militia Unit during the 1971 war. In a candid conversation, he described the war as the most challenging phase of his military career, and a defining moment in independent India’s history.
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Early Life and Military Journey
Born into a family with no direct military lineage—his father and grandfather worked with Hindustan Insurance—Arun Roy nevertheless found inspiration from his four uncles who served across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Educated at St. Francis’ in Lucknow and other cities including Madras, Delhi, and Ambala, he joined the National Defence Academy at the age of 16 and was commissioned into the Army in 1967.
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A Soldier’s Son Took a Different Path
While Roy dedicated his life to the armed forces, his son charted a different course. Educated at Don Bosco, he declined his father’s advice to join the military and instead moved to the United States at a young age. Today, he serves as Vice President across three American companies.
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Recalling the 1971 War: Chamb Sector
According to Roy, the 1971 war was by far the largest and most complex conflict India has faced, involving not just the western and northern fronts but also the eastern sector that ultimately led to Pakistan’s defeat and the creation of Bangladesh. He was a captain in the Chamb-Sunderbani sector when Pakistan declared war on December 3, 1971.
As Adjutant of the 8 J&K Militia Unit, Roy was responsible for coordinating operations of nearly 1,000 soldiers. We had planned to cut through the Pakistani positions, but sudden orders from headquarters forced us to go on the defensive, he recalled.
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Life on the Frontlines
The battlefield conditions were harrowing. There was hardly any sleep for 17 days. I used to catch an hour or so of rest when I could. Meals were basic—just bread and eggs, often inside trenches. And the constant sound of bombs and gunfire never ceased, Roy said.
The horrors of war remain etched in his memory. “There were bodies scattered across the battlefield. Many couldn’t be buried properly. It was difficult to even identify the dead as limbs were often blown away,” he added.
The war effectively ended on December 16, 1971, but Roy and his men had sensed the shift a day earlier. Still, confirming casualties and tending to the wounded remained a grim task long after the ceasefire.
Roy fondly remembered fellow Bengali officers like Manish Gupta, who later became the Chief Secretary and Minister in West Bengal, and Swapan Mandal, who remained in the Army. His career also took him abroad, including a stint in Bhutan training the local army from 1978 to 1981, a posting in Russia in the mid-1980s, and as a Defence Attaché at the Indian Embassy in Washington from 1996 to 1999.
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A Life of Service Without Regret
Despite several offers after retirement, Roy chose not to join any civilian institutions. It’s difficult to adjust to a world outside the discipline of the Army, he explained.
When asked if he had any regrets, Roy was unequivocal: Absolutely not. I’ve always served the country. The honour I received in the Army is equal to, if not greater than, that of any IAS or IFS officer. Even at 80, I continue to receive the same respect—and that’s more than enough for me.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
