A salute to Field Marshal Manekshaw

By Lt Gen BS JaswalBorn in Amritsar on April 3, 1914, aptly around the time World War-I broke out, to Parsi parents who migrated to Punjab from Valsad on the Gujrat coast, Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jameshedji Manekshaw crafted India’s greatest military victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War that led to the emergence of Bangladesh. It was the swiftest and most decisive victory in recent history.After taking over the Command of Gajraj Corps on December 2, 1962 as its third GOC, General Manekshaw convinced retreating Indian Forces that the Chinese soldier was not “10 ft tall”. His first order was “there will be no withdrawal without written order and these orders shall never be issued”. The electrified soldiers successfully checked the further Chinese advance. He was conferred with Padma Bhushan in 1968 for his acumen in tackling Naga insurgency as GOC-in-C, Eastern Command.Affectionately called “Sam Bahadur” for his close association with Gorkha Rifles, Manekshaw was the architect of many of military triumphs, but his finest hour came when Pakistani forces were vanquished in 14 days flat. Manekshaw, a role model for the uniformed fraternity, is perhaps the tallest amongst the military geniuses in the contemporary world. His distinguished military career spanned four decades from the British Era and through five wars, including the Second World War.Gajraj Corps salutes the Field Marshal and prays for peace to his departed soul. His indomitable spirit, outstanding leadership and contributions to the Corps and nation will continue to inspire the generations to come. (The writer is GOC, Gajraj Corps, Tezpur) source: sentinel assam