![Swarnim Vijay Mashal reaches South Western Air Command Gandhinagar](https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/640x430/filters:format(webp)/connect-gujarat-english/media/post_banners/94ef966a19cf140c4d3915437f4c283ad16adb71e0d79fbe724ccf194b924b83.webp)
As the nation celebrates 50th year of victory in the 1971 war, 2020-21 has been declared as the 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' by the Government of India. The 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' has been dedicated to the war heroes of the Indian Armed Forces who made supreme sacrifices for the country. The historic war of 1971 resulted in the largest military surrender since World War II, wherein 93,000 enemy troops laid down their arms before the Indian Armed Force.
The event was inaugurated by Prime Minister on Vijay Diwas, 16 December 2020, by lighting four 'Victory Flames' from the eternal flame of the National War Memorial and dispatched across the nation in four cardinal directions. The 'Victory Flame is being taken to major cantonments across the towns and villages from where the bravehearts of the 1971 War hail.
![](https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/connect-gujarat-english/media/post_attachments/c2357411dae4550ebb263a670b1afb6bd0f9961cb4ca5909b72487d697c18bc3.webp)
HQ South Western Air Command, Gandhinagar received the 'Victory Flame' of "Swarnim Vijay Varsh" on 24 August 2021 in an event organized to commemorate the victory and remember the ultimate sacrifices of our war heroes. The flame was received with full military honours and air warriors rejoiced with patriotic fervour along the route of the Mashaal in the campus.
Air Marshal Sandeep Singh AVSM VM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command placed a wreath at the War Memorial and paid homage to the "Swarnim Vijay Mashal" in the presence of all senior officials and air warriors of the command.