Field Marshal Sam H.F.J.

Manekshaw

The architect of India's heroic victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Field Marshal
Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was born in Amritsar, Punjab on 3rd
April 1914. After completing his schooling in Amritsar and Sherwood
College(Nainital), he joined the first batch of 40 cadets at Indian Military
Academy(IMA), Dehra Dun on 1st 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 Scouts and later to the 12 Frontier Force Rifles.

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. He, then, went on a six-month lecture tour to Australia in 1946, and after
his return served as a First Grade Staff Officer in the Military Operations
Directorate.

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 in 1968.

Manekshaw became the 8th Army Chief when he succeeded General

Kumaramangalam on 7th 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. The war ended with
Pakistan's unconditional surrender, and the formation of Bangladesh. More than
90,000 Pakistani soldiers were taken as POWs.

General Manekshaw congratulates troops of the victorious Indian Army.

General Manekshaw is greeted by the defeated East-Pakistani Commander,

General Tikka Khan.

For his selfless service to the nation, the President of India awarded him a
Padma Vibhushan in 1972 and conferred upon him the rank of Field Marshal on
1st January 1973. Manekshaw became the first Indian General to be awarded
this prestigious rank, which is mainly honorary. The other was late Field Marshal
Kodandera Madappa Cariappa. Manekshaw retired a fortnight later, on 15th
January 1973, after completing nearly four decades of military service.

Following his retirement from the Indian Army, Manekshaw has successfully
served as the Director of numerous companies. At 88, he is still going strong.

Field Marshal Manekshaw today.

Field Marshal Manekshaw visits Indian soldiers injured in hospital during Kargil
war in 1999.
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Sam Manekshaw
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Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, Military Cross or "Sam
Bahadur" (born April 3, 1914) is an Indian Army officer. In a long career spanning nearly
four decades, Field Marshal Manekshaw rose to be the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army
in 1969 and under his command, Indian forces concluded a victorious campaign during
the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw 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). His distinguished military career has spanned four decades and through five
wars, including World War II.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Early life and education

• 2 Military career
o 2.1 World War II
o 2.2 Higher Commands and Offices
• 3 Army Chief: The War of 1971
• 4 Honour and Retirement
• 5 Accusations of Treason
• 6 References
• 7 External links

• 8 See Also

[edit] 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.

[edit] Military career

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.
[edit] World War II

During World War II, Manekshaw saw action in the Burma campaign on Sittang River as
a Captain with the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment [1] 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. During the course of the
offensive he was hit by a burst of LMG bullets and was severely wounded in the
stomach. 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."

[edit] Higher Commands and Offices

Indian Army

Head Quaters
New Delhi
History and traditions
Indian military history
British Indian Army
Indian National Army
Army Day: 15th January
Components
Regiments of the Indian Army
Personnel
Chief of Army Staff
Ranks and insignia

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. He, then, went on a six-month lecture tour to Australia in
1946, and after his return served as a First Grade Staff Officer in the Military Operations
Directorate.

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
(which became his new regimental home, since his original parent regiment The 12th
Frontier Force Regiment went on to join the new Pakistan Army at partition ) 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 in 1968.

Manekshaw with Lt General Sartaj Singh, GOC 15 Corps, shares a joke with a jawan.

[edit] Army Chief: The War of 1971

Manekshaw became the 8th Chief of Army Staff when he succeeded General
Kumaramangalam on 7 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 from West Pakistan. The volatile situation erupted into a
full-scale war in December 1971.

During this Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Manekshaw showed uncommon ability to

motivate the forces, coupling it with a mature war strategy. The war ended with
Pakistan's unconditional surrender, and the formation of Bangladesh. More than 45,000
Pakistani soldiers and 45,000 civilian personnel were taken as POWs. He masterminded
the rout of the Pakistan Army in one of the quickest victories in the recent military
history. This led to the Shimla Agreement which opened the door to the creation of the
nation of Bangladesh as separate from Pakistan.

[edit] Honour and Retirement

For his distinguished service to the nation, the President of India awarded him a Padma
Vibhushan in 1972 and conferred upon him the rank of Field Marshal on 1 January 1973.
Manekshaw became the first of the only two Indian Army Generals to be awarded this
prestigious honorary rank other being the late Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa
Cariappa. Manekshaw retired a fortnight later (although technically Field Marshalls of
the Indian Army never retire because the rank is conferred for life), on 15 January 1973,
after completing nearly four decades of military service.

Following his retirement from the Indian Army, Manekshaw has successfully served as a
director of numerous companies.[citation needed]

[edit] Accusations of Treason

On Tuesday, May 8, 2007, it was reported by IBNlive.com that Gohar Ayub Khan, son of
former Pakistani President Ayub Khan, had claimed Manekshaw is actually a Pakistani
spy. This news came one week after the release of Ayub's father's memoirs[2].

[edit] References
1. ^ Compton McKenzie (1951), Eastern Epic, Chatto & Windus, London, pp440-1
2. ^ http://in.news.yahoo.com/070508/211/6fgvn.html

[edit] External links

• Bharat-Rakshak

[edit] See Also

[hide] v • d • e Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
History Operations and Battles
• Partition of India • Battle of Atgram Complex
• History of Pakistan • Battle of Garibpur
• Indo-Pakistani Wars • Battle of Boyra
• War of 1947 • Operation Chengiz Khan
• War of 1965 • Battle of Longewala
• Operation Searchlight • Battle of Hilli
• Bangladesh Liberation War • Meghna Heli Bridge
• Mukti Bahini • Tangail Airdrop
• Research and Analysis Wing • Battle of Basantar
• Mitro Bahini • PNS Ghazi
• Operation Jackpot. Indian Army, Summer • Operation Trident
1971 • East Pakistan Air Operations,
• Operation Jackpot. Bangladesh Navy, Autumn 1971
1971 • INS Khukri
• more...
 Political and military leaders
India Indira Gandhi • Sam Manekshaw • K P Candeth • J S Aurora • Gopal
Gurunath Bewoor • J.F.R. Jacob• Sagat Singh• M L Thapan• T N Raina•
Sartaj Singh• N C Rawlley• K K Singh • Kuldip Singh Chandpuri
•Kulwant Singh Pannu
Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto • Yahya Khan •A. A. K. Niazi • A. O. Mitha • Gul
Hassan Khan • Rao Farman Ali • Sahabzada Yaqub Khan • Tikka Khan
Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman • Tajuddin Ahmed • Muhammad Mansur Ali • A.
H. M. Qamaruzzaman • M. A. G. Osmani • Ziaur Rahman • Khaled
Mosharraf
Valour
L/Nk Albert Ekka †• Fg Off N.J.S. Sekhon†• 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal†• Maj
India
Hoshiar Singh
Major Muhammad Akram†• Plt Off Rashid Minhas†• Major Shabbir Sharif
Pakistan †
• J/Swr Muhammad Hussain†• L/Nk Muhammad Mahfuz†
Banglades Eng off Ruhul Amin†• Flt Lt Matiur Rahman†
h
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Manekshaw"

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since April 2007 | All articles with
unsourced statements | Chiefs of Army Staff (India) | Field Marshals | Padma Bhushan
recipients | Padma Vibhushan recipients | Recipients of the Military Cross | Frontier
Force Regiment | Generals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | Generals of the
Bangladesh Liberation War | Parsis | 1914 births | Living people

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In 1942 at the height of the World War II a fierce battle was raging in Myanmar, then Burma, at the Sittang Bridge. A company of
the Indian Army was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the invading Japanese forces for the capture of a position, which was
critical for the control of the bridge. The young company commander was exhorting his troops when his stomach was riddled by a
machine gun burst. Afraid that his company would be left leaderless if he were evacuated, he continued fighting till he collapsed.

His company won the day and the general commanding the Indian forces arrived at the scene to congratulate the soldiers. On
seeing the critically wounded commander, he announced the immediate award of the Military Cross -- the young officer was not
expected to survive much longer and the Military Cross is not awarded posthumously. Thus began a historic military career that
spanned the Indo-Pak wars and the Sino-Indian conflict, the wounded captain surviving to become India's first field marshal.
In 1947 when Pakistan invaded Kashmir, Sam Manekshaw was the colonel in charge of operations at the Army Headquarters. His
incisive grasp of the situation and his acumen for planning instantly drew the attention of his superiors and Manekshaw's rise was
spectacular, though not without controversy. He was outspoken and stood by his convictions. This, coupled with his sense of
humour, often got him into trouble with politicians.

In 1961, for instance, he refused to toe the line of the then defence minister V.K. Krishna Menon and was sidelined. He was
vindicated soon after when the Indian army suffered a humiliating defeat in nefa the next year, at the hands of the Chinese,
resulting in Menon's resignation. Prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru rushed Manekshaw to nefa to command the retreating Indian
forces. This had an electrifying effect on the demoralised officers. In no time, Manekshaw convinced the troops that the Chinese
soldier was not "10 ft tall". His first order of the day characteristically said, "There will be no withdrawal without written orders and
these orders shall never be issued." The soldiers showed faith in their new commander and successfully checked further ingress
by the Chinese.

The Indo-Pak war of 1965 saw Manekshaw as army commander, Eastern Command. When India was forced to launch operations
in the west, Manekshaw was against attacking in the east since the main sufferers would be the people of East Pakistan. The
wisdom of his advice dawned when the Indian forces fought the Pakistan army in East Pakistan in 1971.

This was Manekshaw's finest hour. As army chief and chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, he planned the operation meticulously
refusing to be coerced by politicians to act prematurely. His strategic and operational finesse was evident when Indian pincers cut
through Pakistani forces like knife through butter, quickly checkmating them.

When the prime minister asked him to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of the Pakistani forces, he declined, magnanimously
saying the honour should go to his army commander in the east. He would only go if it were to accept the surrender of the entire
Pakistan Army.

Manekshaw's competence, professional standing and public stature was such that the politician and the bureaucrat alike crossed
his path only at their peril. On one occasion, he found that the defence secretary had penned his own observations on a note he
had written to the prime minister and defence minister. Infuriated, Manekshaw took the file and walked straight into Mrs Gandhi's
office. He told her that if she found the defence secretary more competent than him to advise her on military matters she did not
have a need for him. The defence secretary was found a new job.

As a commander, he was a hard taskmaster. He encouraged his officers in the face of adversity but did not tolerate
incompetence. That is perhaps Manekshaw's greatest contribution, to instil a sense of duty, efficiency, professionalism in a
modern Indian army and to stand up to political masters and bureaucratic interference.

In a way, he was following the path of other army chiefs, K.S. Thimayya K.M. Cariappa. A holy terror, there are many tales of the
power of his whiplash. Following Pakistan's surrender in the east, Manekshaw flew into Calcutta to compliment his officers. The
ceremonial reception over at Dum Dum airport, he was escorted to a car -- a Mercedes captured from the enemy. Manekshaw
refused to sit in it, leaving the officers red-faced.

On another 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." Replied Manekshaw: "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.

Lt-General A.K. Kalkat is a former army commander and belongs to Manekshaw's regiment, 8 Gorkha Rifles.