FIELD MARSHAL Sam Manekshaw, M.C. popularly known as Sam Bahadur perhaps is the tallest amongst the military geniuses in the contemporary world.
This legendary soldier and giant personality is too big to be documented in this small post.
However...on India's 60th independence anniversary..i am attempting to write a post on one of my most revered ideals.....
Sam Manekshaw (full name :Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw) aka “Sam Bahadur” is the first of only two Indian military officers to hold the highest rank of Field Marshal of the Indian Army (The other being Field Marshal K M Cariappa)
Manekshaw's military career spanned four decades, from the British era and World War II, to the three wars against China and Pakistan after India's independence in 1947.
Early Life and Education
Manekshaw was born in Amritsar, Punjab to Indian Parsi parents. After completing his schooling in Amritsar and Sherwood College (Nainital), he joined the first batch of 40 cadets at Indian military academy, Dehra Dun on 1 October 1932. He passed out of the IMA in December 1934 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He held several regimental assignments and was first attached to the Royal Scots and later to the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment.
Military Career
During World War II, he saw action in the Burma campaign on Sittang River and has the rare distinction of being honoured for his bravery on the battle front itself. During World War II, he was leading a counter-offensive against the invading Japanese Army in Burma. As he charged forward with his men, a Japanese soldier suddenly emerged from the bushes and fired at him, wounding him seriously in the stomach.
Fortunately, Major General D.T. Cowan spotted Manekshaw holding on to life and was aware of his valour in face of stiff resistance from the Japanese. Fearing the worst, Major General Cowan quickly pinned his own Military Cross ribbon on to Manekshaw saying, "A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross."
Having recovered from those near-fatal wounds in Burma, Manekshaw went for a course at Staff College, Quetta and later also served there as an instructor before being sent to join 12 Frontier Force Rifles in Burma under General (later Field Marshal) Slim's 14th Army. He was once again involved in a fierce battle with the Japanese, and was wounded for a second time.
Towards the close of World War II, Manekshaw was sent as Staff Officer to General Daisy in Indo-China where, after the Japanese surrender, he helped rehabilitate over 10,000 POWs.
India' Independence and Partition
Manekshaw showed acumen for planning and administration while handling the issues related to partition in 1947, and later put to use his battle skills during the 1947-48 Jammu & Kashmir Operations. After command of an Infantry Brigade he was posted as the Commandant of the Infantry School and also became the Colonel of 8 Gorkha Rifles (his regimental home) and 61 Cavalry.
He commanded a Division in Jammu & Kashmir and a Corps in the North East, with a tenure as Commandant of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in between. As GOC-in-C Eastern Command, he handled the tricky problem of insurgency in Nagaland and the grateful nation honoured him with a Padma Bhushan - India's third highest civilian honour - in 1968.
Indo-China Conflict
When India suffered a humiliating defeat at China's hands. Jawaharlal Nehru rushed Manekshaw to Nefa to command the retreating Indian forces. This had an electrifying effect on the demoralised forces. 
His first order order of the day characteristically said "There will be no withdrawl without written orders and these orders shall never be issued"
The 1971 Indo-Pak War
Manekshaw is the architect of India's Victory in 1971 Indo-Pak War
Manekshaw succeeded General Kumaramangalam as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on 07 June 1969. His years of military experience were soon put to the test as thousands of refugees from the erstwhile East Pakistan started crossing over to India as a result of oppression unleashed from West Pakistan. The volatile situation got worse and soon erupted into a full-scale war in December 1971.
During the military campaign, Manekshaw showed uncommon ability to motivate the forces, coupling it with a mature war strategy.
General Manekshaw is greeted by the defeated East-Pakistani Commander, General Tikka Khan
When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wanted to rush into a conflict in April 1971 following the refugee crisis, it was Manekshaw who pointed out that moving formations to face 90,000 pakistan troops would take atleat two months.Plus ground conditions-it was monsoon time in East Pakistan - would render roads and transport facilities inoperable.He offered to put his resignation rather head an unprepared army....He got what he wanted and the rest is history.....
The grand victory were achieved within a short span of 14 days with 93,000 enemy soldiers made to surrender.
He retired a fortnight later, on 15 January 1973, after completing nearly four decades of military service(although technically Field Marshals of the Indian Army never retire because the rank is conferred for life).
Lieutenant General Depinder Singh (retd), who served as military assistant to Manekshaw when he served as Chief of the Army Staff, has published a riveting memoir of this most unusual man.
Here is an extract from Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Soldiering with Dignity.
The outbreak of the Second World War saw the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment in action in Burma with the famed 17 Infantry Division. Sam was separated from his family for over three years and this separation was the cause of a celebrated example he was later to give while answering questions put to him in his capacity as Chief of the Army Staff by the Pay Commission. The question, which triggered off the reply was, why should the army continue to get separation allowance? This, to clarify, is a token sum every officer and enlisted man gets when his unit moves to a non-family station thus necessitating separation. I say 'token' because the name is a misnomer; whereas it is meant to cover the expenditure incurred in running two establishments, the amount paid is, in fact, a pittance. For example, an officer used to get just seventy rupees a month and the men an even smaller amount. The answer to explain the need was "After my marriage, I went off to war and didn't see my wife for three long years, and when I returned I found I had a brand-new daughter, and the only reason I am sure the child is mine is because she looks just like me." Needless to say, the Pay Commission broke up in laughter, but went away convinced. The separation allowance continues.
The Field Marshall enquiring the health of his troops during Kargil War
In Cato the Elder's immortal words: 'When I die I would rather have people say why there is no monument to me than why there is.'
