Sam Manekshaw

During the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, Sam Manekshaw, also referred to as Sam Bahadur ("Sam the Brave"), served as the Indian Army's Chief of Army Staff and became the first Indian Army commander to be appointed to the rank of field marshal. The consensus is that he was the mastermind behind India's triumph in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan conflict.

Manekshaw was born on April 3, 1914, in Amritsar, Punjab, India. In 1932, he enlisted in the British Indian Army, where he distinguished himself throughout World War II. He was instrumental in bringing the Indian and Pakistani armies together after the war.

Manekshaw assumed the role of Chief of Staff in the Army in 1969. It was under his leadership that the Indian Army was brought up to date and readied for conflict with Pakistan. India and Pakistan fought each other in the war of 1971 in order to back the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan.

Bangladesh was created as a result of Manekshaw leading the Indian Army to success in the conflict.

Manekshaw was a renowned and well-respected soldier. In addition to the Military Cross, he received the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. He also received the title of field marshal, making him the first officer in the Indian Army to do so. Manekshaw was renowned for his bravery, shrewd strategic thinking, and good humor. Additionally, he was a fervent supporter of democracy and secularism in India. India regards Manekshaw as a national hero. His leadership in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and his contribution to India's victory are what people remember about him.

Early Life

Manekshaw was born on April 14, 1914, in Amritsar, to Hormizd and Hilla Manekshaw. In the heart of Amritsar, a prosperous clinic and pharmacy were operated by physician Hormizd Manekshaw. Sam, the third son and fifth child of the couple, was one of six children-two daughters and four sons.

Sam requested to be sent to London to pursue a degree in medicine since he wanted to become a doctor like his father. Sam's father declined, citing Sam's age and the fact that Hormizd was already aiding two of his brothers who were studying engineering in London.

Rather, Manekshaw enrolled in the Hindu Sabha College, Amritsar. He took the University of Punjab's final exams in April 1932 and passed with a third rank in science.

At this point, the Indian Military College Committee-which was founded in 1931-recommended the creation of a military institution to prepare Native Americans for officer commissions in the armed forces.

The Public Service Commission would administer an exam to determine which candidates would be accepted into the academy and continue for a three-year program.

In defiance of his father's rejection, Sam Manekshaw enrolled for a spot and took the entrance examinations in Delhi as soon as the exam announcement was made public.

He was chosen from a group of fifteen cadets on October 1, 1932, after an open competition.

Military Career

Sam Manekshaw was commissioned on February 4, 1935, and his first assignment was to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots. This was a common practice in the British Army since postings were made in British units before being sent to Indian units.

Later, in May 1938, he was assigned to the 12th Frontier Force Regiment, which was based in Burma, and he was given the position of quartermaster for his company.

When World War 2 broke out, the future Field Marshal was deployed to Burma.

During the 1942 Bruma campaign, he distinguished himself and was awarded the Military Cross, the highest accolade given to Commonwealth forces.

Sam Manekshaw was transferred to the 8th Gorkha Rifles after his unit, the 12th Frontier Force Regiment, was absorbed by the Pakistan Army during the Partition of India.

On October 22, Pakistani forces penetrated Kashmir and took Domel and Muzaffarabad before he relocated to his new post as the commanding commander of the 3rd Battalion, 5 Gorkha Rifles.

Sam Maneekshaw was conducting airborne surveillance on the invading Pakistani Army on October 26, 1947, when the Maharaja of Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession. He was the one who proposed airlifting the Indian Army into Kashmir to keep it from being taken over.

He was transferred to the Imperial Defence College in London in 1957 for a year-long higher command training. After his return, on December 20, 1957, he was given the acting title of major general and named GOC of the 26th Infantry Division.

On March 1, 1959, Manekshaw received a promotion to substantive major general.

Involvement in the 1971 Indo-Pak War

A separatist movement gained traction after the West Pakistani administration rejected the desire for more autonomy for East Pakistan. The Pakistani Army used violence in response to the separatist movement in March.

As a result of this action, millions of East Pakistanis were compelled to migrate to India, and hundreds of them died. Given the chance to outmaneuver its opponent and full awareness of the negative economic effects the refugee issue would have on the country, India chose to support the creation of the newly formed country of Bangladesh. The 1971 India-Pakistan War was about to break out.

In April, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi questioned Sam Manekshaw if the Indian Army was prepared. In response, he said that the majority of its infantry and armored divisions were stationed elsewhere and that it would take some time to relocate them to the East Pakistani border.

Furthermore, China might intervene as a result of the Himalayan Mountain routes remaining open, further complicating the conflict for India. Sam Manekshaw promised that he could ensure victory if he managed the war according to his rules. To this, the prime minister consented.

In addition to the Mukti Bahini, a guerilla group of 75,000 fighters that fought for the freedom of East Pakistan, Sam Manekshaw devised a plan that would utilize all three of the Indian Army's services. Through the destruction of supply routes, disruption of communications, and return of vital intelligence to the Indian Army, these guerillas played a significant role in tormenting the Pakistani Army.

The Pakistani Air Force bombed Indian Air Force sites in western India on December 3, 1971, marking the official start of the conflict. The Indian Army, led by Sam Manekshaw, implemented a combined-arms strategy that virtually eliminated Pakistani opposition in the war's eastern theater and stopped any assistance from arriving from its western flank.

On December 9, 1971, with all vital locations taken over and Dhaka practically encircled by the Indian Army, Sam Manekshaw begged the Pakistani soldiers to surrender unconditionally, assuring them a just outcome and protection from the retaliation of East Pakistan's populace. On December 11 and 15, he also reiterated his statement.

The Pakistani army commander realized there was no chance for sustained resistance when a UN Security Council meeting on the matter failed. The surrender was formally announced at 9:00 a.m. on December 16 after he accepted Sam Manekshaw's offer. The war came to a formal conclusion with this act, and Bangladesh became a new nation.

Manekshaw was elevated to the position of field marshal by Indira Gandhi, who also intended to make him the country's first Chief of Staff following the war. But the appointment to the Chief of the Defence Staff position and the establishment of the position itself were thwarted by bureaucratic meddling.

The Brave General: Sam Manekshaw's Amazing Journey

Pre-Independence

Sam Manekshaw enlisted with Lahore's 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, upon his completion of the course. Later, he was assigned to the 12th Frontier Force Regiment's 4th Battalion in Burma.

Sam Bahadur was stationed in Burma to combat the Japanese Army's invasion during World War II.

Manekshaw oversaw the disarmament of more than sixty thousand Japanese POWs.

Sam Bahadur came dangerously close to death while serving in Burma. Despite being hit by Japanese bullets, he made it through.

Post-Independence

Sam Manekshaw was transferred to the 8th Gorkha Rifles after the division.

Reorganization of the Army: In order to address shortages of supplies, lodging, and clothes, he reorganized the soldiers in the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).

Army Leadership: Manekshaw joined Western Command as an army commander. Sam Bahadur was named Chief of Staff of the Army Staff in 1969.

Major Battles Fought by Manekshaw

When World War II started in 1939, Sam Manekshaw was sent to Burma to fulfill his duty. This was the first significant conflict he had to face.

During his battle with Japanese forces near the Sittang River, he suffered severe injuries.

On February 4, 1942, he was elevated to substantive captain after serving in World War 2. On October 22, 1947, Pakistani forces entered Kashmir, and Sam Manekshaw was about to begin his new position as the 3rd Battalion, 5 Gorkha Rifles' commanding commander.

His second big engagement occurred when he discovered the Pakistani Army was there in Kashmir while performing aerial surveillance on the approaching Pakistani Army. Indira Gandhi promoted Manekshaw to the rank of field marshal with the intention of appointing him as the nation's first Chief of Staff after the war. However, bureaucratic intervention prevented both the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff post and its appointment.

Later Life and Awards Received

The Field Marshal In recognition of Sam Manekshaw's contributions to India, the President of India bestowed upon him the Padma Vibhushan in 1972.
On January 1, 1973, he was made the first Field Marshal of India.
On January 15, 1973, Sam Manekshaw left active duty after serving for almost ten years. He moved to the civilian town of Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, which is close to Wellington Cantonment, with his wife Silloo.
King Birendra of Nepal awarded him the Order of Tri Shakti Patta in 1977. It was the Nepalese Kingdom's order of knighthood.
After retiring, he continued to serve on the boards of numerous firms, sometimes as chairman and sometimes as an independent director.
On June 27, 2008, Manekshaw, at 94, passed away in the Military Hospital in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, from complications related to pneumonia.
Every year on December 16, people celebrate Vijay Diwas to remember the victory over Pakistan that Manekshaw led in 1971.
The finest establishment in the Indian Army is the Manekshaw Center, which bears his name at Delhi Cantonment.

Legacy

Every year on December 16, people celebrate Vijay Diwas in remembrance of Manekshaw's 1971 win.

Former President Pratibha Patil released a postage stamp on December 16, 2008, that showed Manekshaw dressed as a field marshal. Delhi Cantonment is home to the prominent Indian Army institution known as the Manekshaw Centre.

On October 21, 2010, the Indian President officially opened this cutting-edge convention complex, which spans 25 acres of beautifully landscaped terrain.

This center hosts the twice-yearly Army Commanders' Conference, which sets policy.

Bangalore's Manekshaw Parade Ground bears his name and is the site of Karnataka's annual Republic Day celebrations.

In 2008, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi named a flyover bridge in the Shivranjeeni region of Ahmedabad after him.

In the Nilgiris area of Wellington, a granite sculpture was erected in his honor in 2014, next to the Manekshaw Bridge located on the Ooty-Coonoor road. In the Pune cantonment, the Manekshaw statue is also located on Menckji Mehta Road.

Death

At the age of 94, Manekshaw passed away at the Military Hospital in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, on June 27, 2008, at 12:30 a.m. due to complications from pneumonia. His final words were reportedly, "I'm okay!".

He was laid to rest with military honors next to his wife's tomb in the Parsi cemetery in Ooty, Tamil Nadu. Manekshaw's post-retirement controversies were said to have prevented VIP attendance at his funeral.

They prevented the declaration of a National Day of Mourning, which, while not against procedure, was unusual for a significant national leader. His three grandchildren and two daughters survived him.

Death

Controversies

Sam Manekshaw faced an investigation because he had displayed images of governor generals and rulers of Britain in his office rather than Indian leaders.

Another investigation was into why no action was taken against a military teacher who had made derogatory remarks about Native Americans.

He once said that the outcome of the 1971 war might have been different if he had accepted the invitation to enlist in the Pakistan Army in 1947.

Some Interesting Facts About Sam Manekshaw

The first officer to be awarded the title of Field Marshal in an independent India was Sam Maneskshaw, an Indian Army commander.
Sam's father rejected his desire to pursue medicine and become a gynecologist in London when he was a youngster. He said that because he was too young to live alone, his father did not allow him to travel to London. As a form of defiance against his father, he enlisted in the Indian Army.
In 1932, he enrolled in the Indian Military Academy's inaugural class in Dehradun. There were just 40 students in his batch, who were referred to as the Pioneers.
Manekshaw was awarded command of four corps after the 1962 war against China, despite the charges against him never being made public.
The Indira Gandhi government named Sam Manekshaw the seventh Army Chief of Staff on July 8, 1969.
Sam had commanded the Indian forces in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which resulted in India's triumph and the establishment of Bangladesh in December of that same year.
When Indira Gandhi questioned Manekshaw in April 1971 about whether the Army was prepared to invade Pakistan, Sam said that an attack too soon would be met with defeat. He gave her several months to get ready.
Sam was asked if he was ready for Indira Gandhi on the brink of war in December 1971. "I'm always ready, Sweetie," Sam retorted.
In 1968, he received the Padma Bhushan, and in 1972, the Padma Vibhushan in recognition of his outstanding service to the nation.
He received the title of Field Marshal in January 1973, which was when he retired. As a result, Sam Manekshaw became the first Indian Army officer to hold the highest rank in the organization's history.
Maneksaw served in five wars during his career: the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971, World War II, and the India-Pakistan Partition War.
He was quite direct and audacious. If Sam believed that the Indian government's choice would jeopardize the Army's standing in any manner, he would frequently stand up to them.
Shortly after learning that the Pay Commission would cut the troops' uniform stipend. "Now, gentlemen, please tell me who would follow my commands if I appeared in a torn dhoti and kurta," he said as he approached the Pay Commission. This comment supposedly ended the debate.
Meghna Gulzar, a film director, revealed in 2019 that Vicky Kaushal would star in a Sam Manekshaw-based movie.
He passed away in the military hospital in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, on June 27, 2008, from acute bronchopneumonia, a type of pneumonia.
Sam was admitted to the military hospital, and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, had visited him a few days prior to his passing.
Many societal groups were incensed that Manekshaw had received such a simple funeral after his passing. The final ceremonies were staged in Tamil Nadu rather than in New Delhi, which infuriated many. People were reportedly incensed, saying it was a shame for someone of his caliber. The Army Chief, the President of India, and the Prime Minister were not present at the funeral. People insisted that considering his services to the nation, he ought to have received a more elaborate funeral.
On September 11, 2008, the overpass in Ahmedabad's Shivranjani neighborhood bears the name of Narendra Modi, the Gujarat chief minister at the time.
Former Indian President Pratibha Patil presented a postage stamp with Manekshaw wearing his Field Marshal's outfit on December 16, 2008.
On Infantry Day, October 27, 2009, the statue of Sam Manekshaw was inaugurated close to the Pune Cantonment headquarters.
Sam Manekshaw turned 100 on April 3, 2014, and former Army Chief General Bikram Singh dedicated the memorial at the Manekshaw Auditorium in New Delhi. Additionally, he gave him credit for "founding a nation on the planet in 13 days, Bangladesh in 1971."

Conclusion

The life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is a remarkable tale of leadership, strategic brilliance, and unwavering dedication to India. From his early days at the Indian Military Academy to becoming the first Indian Army Field Marshal, Manekshaw's journey is characterized by exemplary service and pivotal contributions, particularly in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

Born in 1914, Manekshaw's trajectory from World War II battlefields to historic military decisions, such as the 1947 Kashmir conflict airlift and the 1971 war strategy, highlights his foresight and military acumen.

His legacy goes beyond the battlefield, with his advocacy for democracy and secularism earning him national admiration.

Despite bureaucratic challenges post-1971, Manekshaw's impact endures through annual celebrations like Vijay Diwas and the esteemed Manekshaw Center. Honors such as the title of Field Marshal and the Padma Vibhushan reflect the nation's gratitude.

His later life, marked by ongoing contributions and his passing in 2008, signifies the end of a significant era in Indian military history.

Manekshaw's story, celebrated through monuments and institutions, continues to inspire. Vijay Diwas and his centenary in 2014 underscore the enduring reverence for a man who shaped the destiny of a nation. Sam Manekshaw's life embodies courage, resilience, and leadership, leaving a lasting legacy in the annals of history.

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