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Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

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Journalist donates war memorabilia

Special Correspondent

Among them were letters, mementos and photos related to the 1971 war

PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

PIECES OF HISTORY: Surajit Sen, a newscaster with AIR and Doordarshan, who moved with the Army and covered the fall of Dhaka in the 1971 war, donates mementos related to the military campaign to Gen. J.J. Singh, Chief of Army Staff, in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Surajit Sen, 81, a senior newscaster and commentator with All-India Radio and Doordarshan, who moved with the Army and covered the fall of Dhaka in the '71 war, on Monday donated letters, mementos and photos related to the military campaign to the Army. Among them was a Point 32 Peshawar manufactured pistol given to him by the Army.

Mr. Sen was the first foreign correspondent to reach Dakha after the surrender and interview top political leaders of the newly-founded Bangladesh, intellectuals, student leaders and members of Badr Bahini and Razakars. He also produced several special features including "In the name of Islam" and "The Anatomy of a Pakistani Soldier."

In fact, Mr. Sen figures in the historical photograph on the occasion of the signing of the surrender document by the Pakistani Army General, A. A. Khan Niazi.

Mr. Sen formally handed over these historic artefacts, mementos and documents to the Chief of the Army Staff J. J. Singh for display in any of the services museum. Gen. Singh thanked Mr. Sen for his gesture and assured him that these valuable historical artefacts would find a suitable place in the Army.

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