The Indian Jewish general who shaped the birth of Bangladesh

Lt. Gen. Jack Jacob, a Bene Israel Jew, was central to India's 1971 victory over Pakistan, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. As Chief of Staff of India's Eastern Command, Jacob devised a rapid, maneuver-based strategy to bypass strongholds and advance directly on Dacca, culminating in the largest military surrender since World War II on December 16, 1971. His Jewish identity, rooted in a community that experienced no antisemitism in India, shaped his moral compass. During the conflict, Israel discreetly provided India with emergency military equipment when other nations withheld support. Jacob later served as governor of Goa and Punjab, and Israel honored him with a plaque on Jerusalem's Ammunition Hill, acknowledging his service and heritage, and highlighting the historical ties between India and Israel.