The publication of a series of news stories on the 1971 India-Pakistan war by the leading Hindi daily, Rajasthan Patrika, has revived my memories of coverage of the war as a Special Correspondent with the newspaper at the young age of 29 years. Rajasthan Patrika has published the front page of its issue dated December 17, 1971, declaring the independence of Bangladesh, in which my news story with my name on two fighter planes of Pakistan being shot down by the Indian Air Force had appeared.

Feeling nostalgic about those days 50 years ago, when I worked enthusiastically as a War Correspondent for Rajasthan Patrika, United News of India (UNI) and All India Radio (AIR) in 1971. I was based in Jodhpur at that time and was privy to important developments during the war in the western sector because of my good contacts in the defence establishment, intelligence agencies and the police force. I successfully carried out my duties for coverage of the war and came out with flying colours.