Sam Manekshaw, the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the five star rank of field marshal, was born on April 3, in the year 1914. He spent a glorious military career that spanned over four decades and participated in five different wars. With a swashbuckling personality and signature twirling moustache, his name is enough to spark reverence and admiration in the minds of not only the army officials but also of every Indian who knows about him.
To mark his death anniversary, let us look at some important highlights from Sam Bahadurs life:
Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was born on April 3, 1914, to Parsi parents in Amritsar, Punjab
His father initially resisted his plans for joining the army, but he rebelled and gave the entrance examination for enrollment into the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun and was a part of the intake of first 40 cadets in 1932
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the British Indian Army (now the Indian Army) post his graduation
In 1942, Manekshaw served as the Captain of the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment in Burma during World War II against the Japanese Army
He led to his teams victory despite losing 50 per cent of his soldiers. He also suffered a major injury by a light machine gun fire but kept on encouraging his soldiers to fight, which ultimately led to clinching the Sittang bridge. On hearing of his bravery, Major General David Cowan, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the 17th Infantry Division, saluted his bravery and determination. He pinned his own Military Cross ribbon on his chest saying, "A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross"
On May 24, 1953, Manekshaw was appointed the Colonel of the Regiment 8 Gorkha Rifles and 61 Cavalry and continued to be the Honorary Colonel of the units till his death
On June 8 in 1969, Manekshaw was appointed the Chief of the Army staff
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the President of India in 1968 for his services in the Indian Army
As the Chief of the Army Staff, he served the nation by counterfeiting the Indian Army into an efficient instrument of war. He united the army, navy and air force into a close knit team which resulted in the defeat of the Pakistani Army in Eastern Front in 1965 and the significant achievements of the Indian Army during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War that led to the liberation of Bangladesh
For his unfathomable services towards the nation, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1972 and was given the rank of Field Marshal in 1973
Manekshaw succumbed to pneumonia on June 27, 2008
In 2014, a statue of Sam Manekshaw was erected in Wellington, the place where he died, in his honour
Reportedly, his last words were "Im okay!"
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