Looking back at the life of Sam Manekshaw: One of India’s greatest military commanders

Popularly known as ‘Sam Bahadur’, Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was born on April 3 in 1914. On his 104th birth  anniversary, we take a look at one of India’s most gallant military leaders.

Manekshaw was the eighth Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, serving as the chief of staff during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. His career in defence is spread over four decades and five wars, including World War II, where he was a part of the British Indian Army.

He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in 1942, Padma Bhushan in 1968 and Padma Vibhushan in 1972.

After the partition in 1947, Manekshaw was reassigned to the 16^th Punjab Regiment. He was given a role in planning in the 1947 Indo-Pak war and during the Hyderabad crisis.

He was promoted to brigadier while serving the Military Operations Directorate. From 1952-1954, he was the commander of the 167^th Infantry Brigade, after which he became the Director of Military Training at Army headquarters.

During his feat as the General Officer Commanding of the 26^th Infantry Division, General K. S. Thimayya was the Chief of Army Staff and Krishna Menon was the defence minister.

On the appointment of General Brij Mohan Kaul as lieutenant general and the Quarter Master General by the defence minister Menon, Manekshaw was caught in controversies. Kaul was close to Nehru and Menon, which earned the disapproval of many army men, including Manekshaw who commented that political leadership should not interfere in the army administration.

Manekshaw was charged with sedition and subjected to a court inquiry. He came very close to ending his career in the service. However, in the Sino-Indian war, the army did poorly for which Kaul and Menon were held responsible. Manekshaw was asked by Nehru to take charge of the army in 1962.

Once when Manekshaw was asked what would have happened if he had opted for Pakistan during partition, he replied, “then Pakistan would have won all wars.”

In 1972, the President asked him to extend his service by six months on special orders. He was reluctant but he complied out of respect.