Firstly; were there really "heroes" then? They were all soldiers who fought; some on a side that won and some on a side that lost. Some fought just for a cause and some fought because they were duty bound to; because of their uniform. Most fought well, but some brought dishonor to themselves, to their uniform, to humanity.
Let me tell you a little about some soldiers who did not wear any uniform (at least formally); young men of the Mukti Bahini; most of them were just coming out of their teens, had very little if any military training and armed with just the basic weapons available. They fought too, and as well as they could against a professional and ruthless trained Army. Though they were a some-what "rag-tag" force; they did all that was humanly possible by them. That is where the IA came in and gave them the support that they required. But that will not detract from their achievements. Neither you nor I or anybody on the face of this earth will be able to do that.
I feel bad for you that you missed an opportunity to to know your "Mamas". But let me tell you this; if they were part of the Mukti Bahini, I consider them to have fought well, no need for any proof of that. That war exacted a terrible price on the Mukti-Jodhas; not least because of horrible casualties caused by extensive minefields laid down by the PA. The use of mines in that conflict was (probably) surpassed only in some other wars. Ask Tiki about it, he will be able to testify to that. And the number of maimed was very large. Having known, met and spoken with many of them, it was clear that their lives had changed dramatically, notwthstanding that their Motherland had achieved the freedom that they fought for.
But their valiant fight is a matter of record as is the outcome.
Otherwise "war is a dirty business".
