Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw

The Story

Born in 1914 in Amritsar to a Parsi family, Manekshaw joined the Indian Military Academy in its first batch and was commissioned in 1934. In the Second World War he was gravely wounded in Burma, and — in a famous moment — was awarded the Military Cross after insisting on rejoining the battle.

He served the new nation in the wars of 1947, 1962, and 1965, rising to become the Chief of Army Staff in 1969. When the crisis over East Pakistan came in 1971, Manekshaw — against the impatience of politicians — insisted on the right timing and the full preparation, and then executed a campaign of genius that led to the surrender of ninety thousand Pakistani soldiers and the birth of Bangladesh.

For that victory he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan and, in 1973, the rank of Field Marshal — the first Indian to hold it. He died in 2008, remembered as Sam Bahadur, the most loved and respected soldier of the nation.