On the night of December 4th, the Indian Navy launched a surprise offensive on the Karachi port, the stronghold of the Pakistani Navy, during the beginning of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. While the Indian Army and air force held their ground, the Indian Navy’s Operation Trident fired six missiles, sank four Pakistani vessels, and ravaged the Karachi harbour fuel fields before successfully returning to Mumbai without a single casualty.

Twitter celebrated the remarkable military exploits of our naval history, and honoured one of the most audacious and decisive missions ever undertaken by our fleets on Indian Navy Day.

The Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 was unique. It did not involve the issue of Kashmir, but was precipitated by the political crisis in Bangladesh between Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (leader of erstwhile East Pakistan), and Yahya Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (leaders of West Pakistan).

Pakistan lost half its navy, a quarter of its air force and a third of its army

Tariq Ali, author of Can Pakistan survive?: The Death of a State

The war saw the highest number of casualties during any conflict between the two countries, as well as the largest number of prisoners of war since the Second World War. It culminated in the declaration of Independence for Bangladesh from the control of Pakistan.

Indian navy personnel display their skills during a rehearsal for Naval Day celebrations in Mumbai, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. AP

Manoj Tiwari, Delhi BJP chief, made a gaffe as he missed the proverbial 'red flag' in his tweet to congratulate the Indian Navy today. The BJP leader posted a picture of of naval ships, but missed a US flag fluttering atop one of them, and Twitter did not dither to quickly point out the blunder.

Flouting any remainder of superstition about women bringing bad luck at sea, netizens saluted sub-lieutenant Shivangi from Bihar, who recently became the first woman-pilot for the Indian Navy.

Netizens honoured our silent protectors at sea, whose vigil along the sprawling shorelines of the subcontinent ensures the safety and continuity of peace in India.