India-Pakistan Tensions Rise: A Look Back at Sunil Gavaskar’s Experience During the 1965 War
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated in recent days, following a terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 people. In response, the Indian government has announced a nationwide mock drill to be conducted on May 7, aimed at educating people on safety measures to be taken in the event of war. The exercise will take place across 259 locations in India and will focus on practising initial response procedures for situations such as the sounding of air raid sirens and the implementation of blackouts.
As the country prepares for this mock drill, which marks the first comprehensive exercise of its kind since 1971, we take a look back at the experiences of former Indian captain and batting great, Sunil Gavaskar, during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. In an exclusive interview with Sports Tak, Gavaskar recalled living through the war as a 15-16 year old.
According to Sports Tak, Gavaskar vividly remembers the measures taken by the Indian public during the 1965 war. "I remember a lot about 1965," he said. "When the war was ongoing, the Indian public was instructed to cover their windows after lighting lamps in the evening. We used black cloth to ensure no light was visible from outside. Those whose houses faced the sea were advised to use as little light as possible, preferably only torches and lamps. Sirens would go off frequently. At that time, we couldn’t always tell if it was a mock drill or something else."
As reported by Sports Tak, Gavaskar also spoke about the preparedness of the people during the war. "We were told to go outside as little as possible," he said. "Shelters were created in residential areas where people had to go after the sirens went off. These shelters were usually in basements. We were told that if your society had a basement, you should go there if you get to hear the sound of a siren."
The economic situation of the country during the 1965 war was also a significant concern, as Sports Tak reported. Gavaskar noted that "there was no fear in the mind of any Indian during the 1965 war. People received all the updates through All India Radio, as television was not very common then. The economic situation of the country was not very strong at that time, so Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had appealed to people to eat only one meal a day."
In an effort to support the war effort, Gavaskar’s family, like many others, made sacrifices in their daily lives. As quoted by Sports Tak, Gavaskar said, "My father said that we would eat less food. We would no longer have both chapati and rice in one meal. It would be either chapati or rice. However, the government did not make this mandatory; we did it ourselves."
The experiences of Sunil Gavaskar during the 1965 India-Pakistan war serve as a reminder of the impact of conflict on civilians. As India prepares for its nationwide mock drill, the country is reminded of the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of uncertainty. According to Sports Tak, Gavaskar’s account of living through the 1965 war provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by Indians during times of conflict.
