One of the most illustrious figures in the history of Indian military, Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was born in Amritsar on 3 April 1914 into a Parsi family. His father, a doctor by profession, wanted him to pursue medicine and wished to send him to London for higher studies. However, Sam revolted against his father’s decision and instead opted to chart his own path. In July 1932, he joined the initial batch of the newly established Indian Military Academy, which was proudly referred to as 'The Pioneers'.
Choosing the Military Over Medicine
This marked the beginning of an extraordinary career in national defense. On 22 April 1939, Sam married Silloo Bode. He held immense admiration for the fearlessness of Gorkha soldiers. A highly famous statement of his still echoes through the ranks of the armed forces: "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gorkha." It was the affectionate soldiers of the Gorkha Regiment who bestowed upon him the title 'Sam Bahadur', a name that would define his legacy forever.
The Crucial Test of the 1971 Conflict
The defining moment of his leadership came during the 1971 war between India and Pakistan. In April 1971, when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi put pressure on the military to launch an immediate campaign due to the growing humanitarian crisis in East Pakistan, General Sam refused to budge. He stated with remarkable candor that the onset of heavy monsoon rains would slow down the movement of the forces and increase the risk of failure. He requested the government for a few months to properly prepare, guaranteeing absolute victory in return.
Strict Discipline and a Swift Victory
When Pakistan carried out air strikes on Indian airfields on the evening of 3 December 1971, Sam put his highly coordinated, rapid multi-pronged campaign into action. Prior to the commencement of the war, he had issued strict instructions to his troops to respect the dignity and honor of local women. Under his stellar command, India secured a historic victory in just 13 days. More than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers were forced to surrender unconditionally, paving the way for the creation of Bangladesh.
Getting the Rightful Dues on a Hospital Bed
Sam Manekshaw formally retired on 15 January 1973. Since the rank of Field Marshal is held for life and its officers never technically retire, he was legally entitled to full pay. However, due to administrative red tape, he was given only half of his pension for a very long period of time. This situation was corrected only after President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam stepped in. In April 2007, the then Defense Secretary Shekhar Dutt visited the hospital where Sam was admitted to hand over a cheque of 1.16 crore rupees, which settled his outstanding arrears. The great military hero passed away at the age of 94 on 27 June 2008 in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, following a lung infection.
