'They Defeated Pakistan': When PM Modi Honoured The Brave Women Of Bhuj Who Helped In 1971 War
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Back in 1971, it had taken the women of Bhuj only 72 hours to repair the airstrip at the Bhuj airbase after Pakistan bombed it during the Indo-Pakistan war
Pakistan has not been able to make its Rahim Yar Khan airbase operational even 17 days after India bombed it on the night of May 9. A NOTAM issued for the airstrip has been extended to June 6.
Back in 1971, however, it had taken the women of Bhuj only 72 hours to repair the airstrip at the Bhuj airbase after Pakistan bombed it during the Indo-Pakistan war. So, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the city on Monday, he made it a point to honour these bravehearts – now aged and elderly, but their spirit very much intact.
Modi invited these women on stage, and they blessed him and gifted him a sapling. He termed it 'Sindoor', promising to plant it at his official residence.
'Just remember 1971, the brave women who came here, they defeated you (Pakistan). These mothers and sisters, at that time, the runway was prepared in 72 hours, and we resumed the attacks. And today it is my good fortune that the brave mothers of the 1971 war have come and blessed me, not only this, but they have also given me a sapling. Mothers and sisters, this sapling given by you will now be planted in the PM House, this is a Sindoor plant, it will grow into a banyan tree," Modi said.
The repair of the Bhuj airbase by these women within 72 hours was a major event during the Indo-Pak war. At least 300 women, most of them village residents, had taken up the onerous task of repairing the airstrip in a display of immense courage. This allowed the Indian Air Force to resume take-off of fighter aircraft from the airbase after the Pakistani attack had left it incapacitated. This was also a turning point that ultimately led India to defeat Pakistan in the 1971 war.
'In Bhuj, I was overwhelmed to receive the blessings of the brave women of Kutch who had displayed amazing courage and determination in the 1971 war with Pakistan," he later wrote on X.
भुज में कच्छ की उन वीरांगनाओं का आशीर्वाद पाकर भावविभोर हो गया, जिन्होंने साल 1971 में पाकिस्तान के साथ हुए युद्ध में अद्भुत साहस और संकल्प दिखाया था। pic.twitter.com/w081f0EKjs — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2025
One of these women, Kanbai Shivji Hirani, had told journalists earlier this month that Modi will avenge the Pahalgam terror attack.
'It was not possible to build the (Bhuj) runway soon, but we made it possible by rebuilding it, as it was a matter of the country. When we won the war, we were very happy. Today, what Pakistan has done (in Pahalgam) is very wrong. PM Modi should take action on this, stop the water and food supply to Pakistan. The only way they will understand things is to stop it," she had said.
These women had desired to meet the Prime Minister when he came to Bhuj on Monday, and he made it a point to honour them and mention their contribution in his speech.
'Pakistan had thought in 1971 that they destroyed our airbase but our sisters did a miracle and showed exemplary courage," he said during his speech.
First Published:
May 26, 2025, 23:41 IST
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