Jun

27

Sam Manekhsaw (1914-2008)

June 27, 2008 posted by indiatime |

manekshawThe members of the Cabinet started walking out. I being the junior most was the last to go and as I was leaving, she said,”Chief, will you stay back?”

I turned around and said, “Prime Minister, before you open your mouth, may I send you my resignation on grounds of health, mental or physical?”

She said, “Every thing you told me is true”.

“Yes! It is my job to tell you the truth” I responded, “and it is my job to fight, it is my job to fight to win and I have to tell you the truth.”

She smiled at me and said, “All right Sam, you know what I want?”

I said, “Yes, I know what you want!”

- Sam Manekshaw (Field Marshal Cariappa Memorial Lecture - 1995),
remembering the first cabinet meeting on 1971 Indo-Pak war

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, modern India’s most decorated battle hero, died yesterday at the young age of 94. It was under this parsee’s leadership that a Sikh (Lt. general Jagjit Singh Arora) and a Jew (Maj. General Jack Frederick Ralph Jacob aka Yaacov Rafael) led India into a 13-day victory over arch-enemy Pakistan, splitting that country in two and creating the new nation of Bangladesh out of East Pakistan.

It is said that the WWII American general Patton believed he was the greatest soldier who ever lived and made himself believe he would never falter through doubt. Manekshaw had similar Pattonesque qualities, and his atitude towards the Indian political brass were somewhat similar to that of Patton’s towards his civilian bosses.

Manekshaw’s star was shining bright since his days as one of the first trainee officers of the Indian Military Academy, and coincidentally David Cowan, his chief instructor during those times (1932-34) was also his superior when Manekshaw fought in Burma in the second world war. During the conflict, Cowan witnessed Manekshaw’s valor first hand and awarded him the military cross as Manekshaw lay bleeding on the battlefield, his body riddled with bullets.

But it was another war on India’s eastern front three decades later that put Manekshaw in the history books. Very few generals on the planet have had the chance to brag about creating new nations and radically changing political maps, and for Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, that crowning achievement trumped all other accolades he won for individual bravery and valor on the battlefield.

Lately, there has been some controversy over the pay scales of India’s army officers. Years ago, there was a move afoot to halt the separation allowance given to Indian soldiers. During the proceedings, the then chief of Army Sam Manekshaw was asked by the pay commission why India’s soldiers were be entitled to a separation allowance from their spouses. Manekshaw answered, “…After my marriage, I went off to war and didn’t see my wife for three long years, and when I returned I found I had a brand-new daughter, and the only reason I am sure the child is mine is because she looks just like me…”!


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3 Comments so far

  1. R.I.P. Manekshaw | DesiPundit on June 27, 2008 8:17 am

    [...] pens an obituary to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who died today.  I grew up hearing stories about Manekshaw’s outspokenness and his [...]

  2. naren on June 27, 2008 9:39 am

    Thanks you so much for this news. I would have missed it otherwise. As young as I was in 1971, the memories of 1971 triumph of the great Field Marshall are still vivid. As the present socio -political India offers little to be proud of, I am happy to be proud for the past in which existed the likes of Maneckshaw.

  3. vishnu on June 27, 2008 6:14 pm

    Sam Maneckshaw is right up there with the likes of Chandragupta, Ashok, Shivaji all those great generals who kicked the enermy’s ass and saved its indian counterpart.

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