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"Only One Meal, No Light, Ventilation" Gavaskar Recalls Scars Of 1965 India-Pakistan War

Akshita Patel

Sunil Gavaskar reveals memories of 1965 war [Source: @ICC/X.com, AFP]Sunil Gavaskar reveals memories of 1965 war [Source: @ICC/X.com, AFP]

India faces fresh tensions with Pakistan after launching ‘Operation Sindoor.’ Amid escalating tensions, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has shared a scary memory from the 1965 India-Pakistan war, which he witnessed as a teenager.

In response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, the Indian army launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 6 to target terrorist camps in Pakistan. The army killed 80 terrorists in Pok.

With tensions escalating between the two neighbouring countries, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has recalled his memories of the 1965 war.

Sunil Gavaskar Recalls How He Survived the 1965 War

The 1965 India-Pakistan War was the second major military conflict between India and Pakistan. After Pakistan armed infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir to incite rebellion against Indian rule, India responded with full military action, leading to open war.

Speaking to Sports Tak, Sunil Gavaskar said he was 15 or 16 years old during the war. At that time, citizens were told to stay indoors and cover their windows at night so that enemy aircraft wouldn’t spot any lights from above. People used black cloth to block all light from coming out of their homes.

“I remember a lot about 1965. I was 15-16 years old, and when the war was ongoing, the Indian public was instructed to cover their windows after lighting lamps in the evening. We used black cloth to ensure no light was visible from outside. There was no fear in the mind of any Indian during the 1965 war. People received all the updates through All India Radio," he said.

He also recalled how Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri made a heartfelt appeal to Indians, asking them to eat just one meal a day to help manage food shortages during wartime. Though it wasn’t a rule, many families, including Gavaskar’s, followed it willingly.

"Sirens would go off frequently. I clearly remember covering the windows and ventilation with black cloth. We were told to go outside as little as possible. Shelters were created in residential areas where people had to go after the sirens went off.  The economic situation of the country was not very strong at that time, so Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had appealed to people to eat only one meal a day," he added.

India Avenge Pahalgam Attack

Operation Sindoor is a major Indian military strike conducted in the early hours of May 7, 2025, by the Indian armed forces. It was a precision counter-terrorism operation targeting terrorist hubs across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (Pok) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, including tourists.  

At least 9 locations were hit, with 80–90 terrorists killed. Cricketers like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Aakash Chopra, and Pragyan Ojha hailed the military for their brave retaliation.