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Time of India
10-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Brave 300 rebuilt Bhuj runway in just 72 hours in 1971
Vadodara/Bhuj: On the night of Dec 8 during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, a squadron of jets from the Pakistan Air Force dropped 64 bombs on the Indian Air Force (IAF) airstrip in Bhuj, Gujarat. Damaged in eight places, the runway was rendered useless, leaving Indian warplanes no way to take off as the fighting peaked. That was when 300 courageous women from Madhapar, a village 5km from Bhuj, decided to step out. In just 72 hours, the women rebuilt the airfield which had been raided 35 times in 14 days, being struck by 92 bombs and 22 rockets. "In just three days, they rebuilt the Bhuj airstrip and made it operational again. Making Bhuj operational was vital as it was an important airbase. The story of these 300 women, the 'Jhansi Ki Ranis of Madhapar', who worked fearlessly amid continual bombardment must be included in our history books," said retired Wing Commander Vijay Karnik, the real-life hero of the film 'Bhuj'. As markets in Bhuj were closed on Saturday amid the rising tensions between India and Pakistan, Karnik, who was the base commander in 1971, said Pakistan had planned to destroy Bhuj airfield to isolate and capture Kutch. "From the Bhuj sector, we were striking at Karachi. The war was at its peak. Sawai Bhawani Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur, who was commanding the 10 Para Brigade (special forces), also came to Bhuj after capturing half of Sindh province," he said. "They (Pakistan) started bombing from the very beginning... from Dec 3 onwards. On Dec 6, we shot down their aircraft over Bhuj, which further rattled them. On the night of Dec 8, they planned a concentrated attack. The PAF's B57 aircraft dropped 64 bombs. Each plane carried eight 1,000-pounder bombs," he said. "Our runway was severely damaged. The bombing was such that everybody in Bhuj town started evacuating the town," he said. "Even the contractor and labourers, who would repair smaller damage earlier, had fled. We put the repair machinery and material 200 feet to the side of the runway, but no one dared go near the strip," he said. "It was then that these 300 women from Madhapar, armed with nothing but patriotism, took up the practically impossible task of repairing the airstrip," he said, adding that the women were briefed on how to take shelter during bomb raids and hide under bushes. "They were daring to adhere to the instructions. They remade the runway very quickly, making our base operational again," he said. Seventy-three-year-old Harji Madhaparia, who was 19 then, says he was at a college function when he heard the sounds of low-flying jets. "We thought they were IAF jets. It was only after a few hours that we realized the airport had been bombed," said Madhaparia, who had enrolled in the Home Guard and was assigned patrol duty in Madhapar.
India.com
05-05-2025
- General
- India.com
Story of 1971 Pakistan war where 300 women defeated the enemy through..., the women beat Pakistan with...
New Delhi: During the 1971 India-Pakistan War, Pakistan faced a brutal defeat, not just from India's military, but also from the fearless efforts of 300 women from Madhapur village, Gujrat. During the war, there were heavy attacks on Indian military bases. On December 8, 1971, Pakistan launched a major attack on the Indian Air Force base in Bhuj, Gujarat. For the next two weeks, the base was bombed more than 35 times, and the runway was badly damaged. It was urgent to repair the runway quickly so Indian fighter jets could take off, but there weren't enough soldiers or engineers available to repair it. That's when Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who was in charge of the Bhuj base, switched to an unexpected group for help, 300 local women. Despite having no experience or training, these women didn't hesitate. They carried cement, mixed mortar, and worked tirelessly day and night to repair the airstrip. Because of their continuous efforts, the runway was repaired in just three days, allowing Indian aircraft to become operational and which decisively countered the Pakistani forces. Their efforts were appreciable. To avoid being spotted by enemy planes, the women used to wear green sarees that blended with the surroundings. When air raid sirens went off, they quickly hid in bushes. Some even used cow dung to cover parts of the runway. Despite the danger, lack of sleep, and food, they completed the task in 72 hours. Once the runway was ready, India's fighter jets launched strong counterattacks, pushing back Pakistani forces and getting ahead of the war. The war, which began on December 3, ended with Pakistan's surrender on December 16, 1971. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister at the time, recognized their bold actions and honored the women by visiting Madhapur village and presented them with gifts. In 2018, the Modi government built a memorial, the 'Veerangana Smarak,' to honor these fearless women. Their story was also featured into a web series, namely Bhuj: The Pride of India, where Ajay Devgan played the role of Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik. Kanabai Shivji Hirani, one of the women who worked on the airstrip, shared her experience. At 24 years old, she and other women worked from morning to evening, taking breaks only when it was safe to do so. In spite of the danger, they kept going, worked 24/7 for the nation. Kanabai still believes that Pakistan should be given a strong response, just like in 1971.
