| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| India's best known soldier dies |
| 2008-06-27 |
| The Indian general who commanded the military campaign that led to the creation of Bangladesh has died at the age of 94. Sam Manekshaw, whose career spanned four decades, was one of India's best known and well-respected soldiers. Under the British, he was decorated for gallantry in World War II for his part fighting the Japanese army in Burma. After India gained independence, he became chief of the army in 1969 and in 1973 was made field marshal. Under his command, India went to war with Pakistan in 1971, supporting Bengali nationalists in what was then East Pakistan. Pakistan surrendered within 14 days and Bangladesh was born. In 1973, only a fortnight before he retired, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal, one of only two Indian army generals to rise to the post. Sam Manekshaw otherwise known as Sam Bahadur - or "Sam the Brave" - was born in the northern Indian town of Amritsar in 1914 and was among the first batch of recruits at the Indian Military Academy set up by the British in 1932. Serving under the British, he was decorated for his part in a battle with the Japanese army in Burma. He made the transition to working for independent India with ease and became chief of the Indian army in 1969. He played a decisive role in some of India's most significant wars, including the war with China in 1962 and the victory over Pakistan in 1971, which made him a national hero. A documentary film made about him in 2003 captured some of his much admired sense of humour. In one sequence Field Marshal Manekshaw recalls how, following the 1971 war against Pakistan, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi confronted him about rumours that he was planning a coup against her. "Don't you think I would not be a worthy replacement for you Madam prime minister? You have a long nose, so have I. I don't poke my nose in other people's affairs," he joked. In the film, Field Marshal Manekshaw also said that India lost a golden opportunity to solve the Kashmir issue once and for all at the Shimla summit with Pakistan which was held soon after the 1971 war. The BBC's Charu Shahane says that he will be remembered as being handsome and witty with a handlebar moustache - every inch a victorious soldier. Our correspondent says that he captured the public imagination and became a hero in the eyes of India's people. In retirement, the field marshal remained reticent and eager to keep a low profile despite being much adored by his countrymen. He recently refused to comment on the war in Iraq despite a huge gathering of journalists bombarding him with questions. Tributes have been pouring into the websites of Indian newspapers, calling him "a great soldier and a very thorough gentleman". Sam Manekshaw, who had been battling a series of illnesses, died at a military hospital in Wellington in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, where he had lived since retiring. Indian Defence Minister AK Antony said the nation "had lost a great soldier, a true patriot and a noble son". |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #9 Sam Manekshaw otherwise known as Sam Bahadur - or 'Sam the Brave' He was actually given this name by the Gurkhas, whom he once commanded. In his retirement and illness he was looked after by his beloved Gurkha soldiers. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-06-27 17:08 |
| #8 Love the first pic. He earned every one of those medals. Hell of a guy. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2008-06-27 11:44 |
| #7 Soldier is a soldier - cuts across nations and cultures. This guy was a soldier's soldier. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-06-27 11:35 |
| #6 Mr. Frum, Sounds like Gen. Manekshaw did a fine job of carrying on the old British-led Indian Army's esprit de corps. I think Bill Slim and John Masters would have been proud of him. |
| Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 2008-06-27 11:18 |
| #5 Thank you for the added information and photos, Mr. Frum. The likes of men like these are so very rare. It is an honor even to have breathed the same air as he did. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2008-06-27 07:59 |
| #4 As Commanding Officer of the Gurkha regiment on a visit to a unit, he once asked what action was taken against a man who contracted veneral disease. When he was told the man's head was shaved, he roared. "Shaved off? Dammit. he didn't do it with his head." Lt-General A.K. Kalkat, a former army commander in Manekshaw's regiment, remembers a conversation between Manekshaw and a general accused of misusing funds: "Sir, do you know what you are saying?" asked the general. "You are accusing a general of being dishonest." Replied Manekshaw: "Your chief is not only accusing you of being dishonest but also calling you a thief. If I were you I would go home and either shoot myself or resign. I am waiting to see what you will do." The general submitted his resignation. On one occasion, he found that the defence secretary had penned his own observations on a note he had written to the prime minister and defence minister. Infuriated, Manekshaw took the file and walked straight into Mrs Gandhi's office. He told her that if she found the defence secretary more competent than him to advise her on military matters she did not have a need for him. The defence secretary was found a new job. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-06-27 07:09 |
| #3 Awarded the Military Cross for action in Burma, he still had shrapnel from seven Japanese bullets in his body. The Indian PM Indira Gandhi once chided him for drinking during military briefings to which he replied, "Madam, the brand name of the whisky is Black Dog, which [President] Yahya Khan drinks. I am quite sure that I shall outdrink him and outfight him. Please do not get angry." When Indira asked him to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of Pakistani forces, Manekshaw declined, magnanimously saying that honour should go to his Army commander in the East Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora. Manekshaw said he would only go if it were to accept the surrender of the entire Pakistani army. He once sent a parcel of the bangles worn by Indian women to the commanding officer of a battalion in the Mizo hills - "with the compliments of the army commander" and a note inside: 'If you are avoiding contact with the hostile give these to your men to wear.” Needless to say, the next few weeks saw a flurry of activity by this battalion resulting in another, more soothing message: 'send the bangles back.' On a rather warm day the Defence Secretary , Harish Sarin, a very powerful civil servant, upon entering the Ministry’s conference room said to a Colonel sitting close to a window, "You there, open that window!" Before the Colonel could get up came a sharp "Sit down" came from Manekshaw, who had also just entered from another door. Turning to the Secretary, he said, "Mr. Secretary, don’t you ever address one of my officers in that tone of voice. You may say, "Sam, would you please open that window, and I will open the window for you. That officer is a Colonel, and not ‘You there’." In 1962, with Indian forces reeling from the Chinese human wave attacks, he was sent to halt the tide. He met his staff officers: ‘Gentleman, I have arrived! There will be no more withdrawals in 4 Corps without written orders and these orders will never be given. Thank you;' and walked out. When the wife of a former army chief asked Manekshaw how he managed to remember the first names of most army wives, the field marshal remarked there are two things no honourable man should forget: His wife's birthday and the first name of the women around. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-06-27 07:04 |
| #2 |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-06-27 06:43 |
#1  |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-06-27 06:40 |