Thursday, May 5 2005 13:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The nation today (May 5, 2005) bid farewell to Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, the hero of the 1971 war, who oversaw the surrender of 90,000 Pakistani soldiers leading to the birth of Bangladesh.

The mortal remains of Aurora, a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Param Vishisht Seva Medal, were cremated at the Brar square crematorium at Delhi cantonment with full military honours. The priests performed customary religious rituals before the pyre was lit by his son Kiran.

Minister of State for Defence B K Handique, Defence Secretary Ajay Vikram Singh, Marshall Arjan Singh, Vice-Chief of Army Staff V K Thakur, former Prime Minister I K Gujral and host of admirers of the late hero placed wreaths on the body.

A wreath was also laid on behalf of three chiefs of Defence Staff and by the acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh High Commission. Aurora had died in New Delhi of heart attack on Tuesday (May 3, 2005) at the age of 89.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V K Malhotra, Sushma Swaraj and Madan Lal Khurana and National Commission for Minorities Chairman Tarlochan Singh were also present.

A military guard offered a reversed gun salute after firing three rounds in the air as a mark of respect for Aurora.

The bugle then sounded the "last post" to bid farewell to the departed soul. They followed it with a sounding of the rouse, signalling that the life goes on.