(This is part two of a four-part 'December' series that revisits significant historical events and policies, and how the lessons learned from them continue to be of relevance in present-day politics and society. Read part one here.)
Not many Indians, Pakistanis, or Bangladeshis would be familiar with the name Archer Blood. Even fewer would have heard of Scott Butcher. But anyone who has read the seminal book by Gary Bass like the co-author, will acquire a completely different perspective of the events of 1971 that culminated in General A K Niyazi and about 93,000 soldiers of the Pakistan Army laying down arms and surrendering before Lt General Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian Army in Dhaka on 16 December 1971.
That moment in history was the finest hour and crowning jewel in the life and career of Indira Gandhi. Her unwaveringly firm stand, her stoic determination despite rebuffs by Western powers and her bold, decisive leadership led to the creation of Bangladesh; albeit after the Pakistani army perpetrated a horrific genocide where millions were brutally killed in cold blood and more than a million women were systematically gang-raped by Pakistani soldiers. Most of the victims were Hindus. The genocide could have been prevented; or stopped soon after it started if Scott Butcher and Archer Blood had their way.