Manekshaw indira gandhi biography

As is true for any legendary figure, anecdotes of Manekshaw’s ingenuity, valour and wit abound. Most are largely true even if few details may have been added over time through errors of communication or to enhance the mythology around him.

Once, for instance, Manekshaw invited the members of the Pay Commission when he heard of a planned cut in the soldiers’ uniform allowance, it was reported. He then asked the members, “Now gentlemen, you tell me, who would obey my orders if I was dressed in a crumpled dhoti and kurta”. This settled the debate.

In his book Leadership in the Indian Army, former major general V.K. Singh recounts from a personal experience how Manekshaw was very affable in his interactions with the young officers.

When Behram Panthaki, who once served as Manekshaw’s aide-de-camp, threw a party at his home in Coonoor, the general, upon hearing the loud music, walked in and said, “You chaps are having a party, and did not invite me.” After finding out that it was a pound party where everyone brought their own food and drinks, he sent one of his men to bring his bottle of scotch.

Early and personal life

Manekshaw was born on 3 April in Amritsar to Hormusji Manekshaw, a doctor, and Heerabai. The fifth of six children, he acquired his school education at Sherwood College, Nainital. Thereafter, he returned to Amritsar for his studies at the Hindu Sabha College. In July , he joined the Indian Military Academy as part of its first batch. It is believed that he did this as an act of rebellion against his father who refused to send the young boy to London to study medicine.

Manekshaw met his wife Silloo Bode in They married two years later on 22 April and had two daughters.

Military career

Manekshaw was commissioned into 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment on 22 December Initially, he was sent to Lahore for one year to serve an attachment period with a British unit. T

Indian Army General and Field Marshal (–)

"Sam Bahadur" redirects here. For the film of the same name, see Sam Bahadur (film).

Field MarshalSam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji ManekshawMC (3 April &#;– 27 June ), also known as Sam Bahadur ("Sam the Brave"), was an Indian Armygeneral officer who was the chief of the army staff during the Bangladesh Liberation War in , and the first Indian to be promoted to the rank of field marshal. His active military career spanned four decades, beginning with service in World War II.

Manekshaw joined the first intake of the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun in He was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment. In World War II, he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. Following the Partition of India in , he was reassigned to the 8th Gorkha Rifles. Manekshaw was seconded to a planning role during the Indo-Pakistani War and the Hyderabad crisis, and as a result, he never commanded an infantry battalion. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier while serving at the Military Operations Directorate. He became the commander of Infantry Brigade in and served in this position until when he took over as the director of military training at the Army Headquarters.

After completing the higher command course at the Imperial Defence College, he was appointed the general officer commanding of the 26th Infantry Division. He also served as the commandant of the Defence Services Staff College. In , he was accused in a politically motivated treason trial, he was eventually found innocent but thus could not serve in the war. In , Manekshaw was promoted to the rank of army commander and took over Western Command, then was transferred in to Eastern Command. In this role, in , he was involved in the first Indian victory against a Chinese offensive during the Nathu La and Cho La clashes.

Manekshaw was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest Indian civilian award, in for respon

The much-anticipated Meghna Gulzar-directed and Vicky Kaushal-starrer – Sam Bahadur has released in theatres and critics are praising the movie and the lead actor for his portrayal of Sam Manekshaw, the inspiration behind the film.

But who exactly is Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw – India’s beloved war general, and the subject of the movie ?

We dig deep into the archives and present to you the story of the man and the soldier.

Early life of Sam Manekshaw

Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, better known as Sam Manekshaw, was born on 3 April in Amritsar, British India. The fifth of six children, he acquired his school education at Sherwood College, Nainital. Thereafter, he returned to Amritsar for his studies at the Hindu Sabha College.

Wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father, Doctor Hormizd Manekshaw, he joined the Indian Military Academy in and on 22 December , was commissioned into the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment. Initially, he was sent to Lahore for one year to serve an attachment period with a British unit. Thereafter, in February , he rejoined his parent unit.

Interestingly, owing to his birthplace, he was fluent in Punjabi – and often conversed with Sikh soldiers in the language whenever he came across them.

Manekshaw met his wife Silloo Bode in and the two tied the knot, two years later on 22 April and had two daughters.

Manekshaw’s life in the Indian Army

Manekshaw, who rose to the rank of Field Marshal in – he was India’s first – has had a storied career in the Armed Forces. His first brush with action came in during the Burma War with Japan. He escaped from the jaws of death after he sustained multiple bullet injuries. It was thanks to his orderly Sher Singh that he survived.

After the war, Manekshaw became a General Staff Officer (Grade 1) in the Directorate of Military Operations in the run-up to Indian Independence.

Post-Partition, Manekshaw, who was a Parsi, w