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Border 2: Did Bollywood Get History Wrong?
20 Mar
Summary
- Border 2 incorrectly portrays the Battle of Basantar, a major 1971 tank engagement.
- The film misrepresents the role of mines and uses tactics from a different war.
- Historical accuracy is sacrificed for a heroic narrative, distorting events.
The film Border 2, a continuation of the popular movie Border, is being examined for its historical accuracy concerning the 1971 Battle of Basantar.
Historically, the Battle of Basantar was a fierce tank engagement where Indian forces, utilizing Centurion and Vijayanta tanks, countered Pakistan's American-supplied M47 and M48 Patton tanks. The battle, fought in the Shakargarh sector, resulted in significant destruction of Pakistani armor, earning the moniker "Patton Graveyard" for the region.
However, Border 2 reportedly deviates from these facts. Contrary to the film's depiction, Indian engineers, not soldiers, were responsible for clearing minefields under enemy fire during the actual battle. Furthermore, the film appears to employ tactics from the 1965 Battle of Asal Uttar, incorrectly attributing them to the 1971 conflict.
The movie's portrayal of events, including daylight crossings and a focus on individual heroism, is also questioned. Real army operations, such as the crossing on December 15, 1971, were conducted professionally at night to ensure success and minimize casualties, a stark contrast to the cinematic suspense presented.
