ADIEU SAM, WE’LL MISS YOU!

On June 27th 2008, India lost one of her valiant sons to the winds of time and history. Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw…does that name ring a bell??Youngsters today may be wondering who on earth was this man? And why is he the focal point of discussion on my blog today. 


Was he a renowned scientist? Some old time politician? A legendary cricketer? ‘Ah for sure, he must have been one of these!’ this is what many of you would say.We (including me) may not know much about this great man who fought many a battles and won us many wars for our country in her hour of trouble.Yes my dear friends, he is Sam Manekshaw. Many of you may know nothing about him, some may know a little and few others may know a lot more. For those of you who know nothing or a little about him, I have summed up 10 things you must know about our great war hero:

1. Sam Bahadur’s (as he was fondly called) military career spanned four decades, from the British era and WWII, to the three wars against China and Pakistan after India's independence in 1947.
2. Born in Amritsar (North of India) on April 3rd 1914 to a Parsi family who immigrated to Punjab from Gujarat, he went on to join the first batch of 40 cadets at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun in 1932.
3. In 1934, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Indian Army. He held several regimental assignments namely the Royal Scots and later to the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment.
4. During the WWII, he showed a valiant display of courage after he survived being hit with bullets in the stomach when he was leading a counter-offensive against the invading Japanese Army in Burma.On recovery; he was once again wounded for the second time when he was involved in a fierce battle with the Japanese.
5. At the close of WWII, he was sent as a staff officer to General Daisy where he helped rehabilitate over 10,000 POWs.
6. Manekshaw’s strategies and acumen for planning and administration was put to test on and off the field – on issues related to the partition in 1947 and on the war front with India’s neighbouring country Pakistan.
7. A mature war strategy for the Indo-Pak war not only won India the 1971 war but also the largest unconditional surrender of POW’s ever, which was 90,000!! This led to the Simla Agreement which resulted in the creation of a new country out of East Pakistan, thus Bangladesh was born.
8. In 1973, Manekshaw became the second (after Field Marshal Cariappa) and the only Indian Army General till date to be awarded the distinguished honour of ‘FIELD MARSHAL’, a rare distinction conferred to an officer of sterling leadership and exemplary courage by the Government of India. To sum it up, the highest rank in the Indian Army.
9. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan for his distinguished services in the Indian Army. He was also awarded the Military Cross by the British for his heroic act in the WWII.
10. After four decades of service he moved out of active service and served on the Board of Directors and as a Chairman in many companies.

Here’s a little more about him:

• This was Sam Manekshaw’s first message to his soldiers: “ There will be no withdrawal without written orders and these orders shall never be issued. "
• When the Prime Minister asked him to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of the Pakistani forces, he declined without giving it a second thought, saying that the honour should go to his army commander Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
• It is believed that he never raised his voice, but even a mild reproving look from him with a 'Sweetheart, this won't do,' was enough to shake the stoutest heart.
• Besides his illustrious military career, Manekshaw was also known for his wits and great sense of humour. Just before the Bangladesh operations in December 1971, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi asked Manekshaw, who was the Army Chief then, "General are you ready" (for the war). "I am always ready sweetie", came a pat reply. On another occasion, Gandhi asked him whether he was planning to take over the country. Pointing to his long nose, the General replied: "I don't use it to poke into other's affairs."
• As a commander, he was a hard taskmaster. He encouraged his officers in the face of adversity but did not tolerate incompetence. On one occasion, a general accused of misusing funds was marched up to him. "Sir, do you know what you are saying?" asked the general. "You are accusing a general of being dishonest." Manekshaw replied, "Your chief is not only accusing you of being dishonest but also calling you a thief. If I were you I would go home and either shoot myself or resign. I am waiting to see what you will do." The general submitted his resignation that evening.
• His wife Silloo passed away in 2001, he is survived by two daughters Sherry and Maja.
• Barack Obama in his condolence message to the people of India said “He was a legendary soldier, a patriot, and an inspiration to his fellow citizens".

It was a fiasco on the government’s part on what protocol and ceremonial issues was to be observed on the death of a dignitary in the warrant of precedence where the rank of Field Marshall figures nowhere today.
Today, if you keep India’s precious son alive in your thoughts and minds, then tomorrow when she sits down to make a list of people who served her in her hour of crisis, she will not have to turn back some pages of history but will attest it in words spoken and written by you - the people and the youth of India.
Love, 

Sonyaa

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The answers to last week's questions are as follows:

While most of you who participated in the last weeks puzzler rightly guessed the 3 celebrities and as I sensed the fourth pic which featured a couple was a bit difficult...alright, so here we are with the answers... the wait is over!

a) Rightly so, the spotlight is on him, hopeful of millions around the world and that he might just make it to the White House considering his popularity increasing by the day!...yes it's none other than.. Barack Obama!

b) Hollywood actress, Sex symbol, married to one of the most handsome Hollywood hunks, adopted kids from different parts of the world, and on a family expansion mode...that sums her up...that's right it's none other than Angelina Jolie

c) OW! this woman gets chatty...if you had paid attention carefully you'd find the answer in the expression OW! literally....yes that's young Oprah Winfrey!

d) And the last one...the biggest hint that was given to you that wife seems to be following her husband's footsteps literally....yes that's none other Hillary Clinton, an aspirant for the Prez's post who failed to make it, but her efforts were lauded by one and all and seen by her side is her husband and ex-Prez of America Bill Clinton. Seems to me this pic must have been taken during their courtship days!

Love, 

Sonyaa