In the wake of India’s recent military strikes across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which came as a response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar recalled the 1965 India-Pakistan war. As tensions between the two nations rise, Gavaskar, who was just a teenager at the time, shared his vivid memories of the war and the precautions taken by the public during that period.
Gavaskar, one of the finest batsmen in cricket history, revealed how life in India changed drastically during the 1965 war. At just 15-16 years old, he remembered the strict instructions given to civilians.
“We were asked not to venture outside unless absolutely necessary, and we had to cover the windows in the evening,” Sunil Gavaskar told Sports Tak. “We used black cloth to ensure no light was visible from the outside. People living in areas facing the sea were advised to use minimal light, only torches or lamps.”
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The constant threat of air raids kept people on edge. “Sirens would go off frequently, and we could never be sure if it was a mock drill or something more serious,” Sunil Gavaskar explained. “I clearly remember covering windows and ventilation with black cloth, and if the sirens went off, we were instructed to go to shelters, usually basements, for safety.”
The atmosphere was one of uncertainty, but Gavaskar noted there was no fear in the hearts of the Indian public. The nation rallied together in solidarity, with updates being provided through All India Radio, as television was not yet common. At the time, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri made a personal appeal for food rationing, urging citizens to limit themselves to one meal a day.
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Gavaskar shared how his family took this advice to heart, with his father deciding they would either have chapati or rice, but not both in a single meal. Though not mandatory, the family made the choice on their own, as part of the collective effort to endure the difficult times.
