Farewell, Field Marshal

I knew Sam Manekshaw from 1950 when he was Director, Military Operations at Army Headquarters. I used to visit his house frequently.

I knew Sam Manekshaw from 1950 when he was Director, Military Operations at Army Headquarters. I used to visit his house frequently. He was very generous and his wife was a charming hostess. She used to throw nice candlelight dinners for us.

Sam used to bring home files and would ask me to help clear them. He was under great pressure at that time as there was a proposal to run the Army down to 100,000 which was known as plan 100. It was to the credit of Sam that he strongly opposed it and ensured that the arm was not run down.

He was also kind enough to give me a dog called Ponting which was my companion for a long time.

My next interaction with him was at Staff College when he was a very popular Commandant and took part in a lot of social activities. He was a keen fisherman and used to go out fishing a lot for trout. Sometimes I went with him. He used to carry a smoker with him to smoke the fish on site.

Unfortunately for him, Lt Gen B M Kaul was very apprehensive and envious of him and instigated an inquiry against him for anti-national activities. I was asked to give evidence and I refused. The charges were stupid and the inquiry was dismissed.

From there he moved to a Corps and Army commander and later as Chief. My next interaction with him was when he was Army Chief and in 1969 he came to see us with the Home Secretary. We had long discussions and he gave us the directive to deal with Naxalites in West Bengal. I asked for more troops and he was kind enough to give us two more divisions.

The Naxals were driven out by mid-1971. This was on the initiative of Sam, that was based on the instructions of Mrs Indira Gandhi.

Story continues below this ad

In April 8216;71, after the crackdown on Bangladesh, a lot of refugees were coming in and Manekshaw told me that the government was pressuring him that the army should move into Bangladesh. I told him we have Mountain Divisions, the monsoons are about to begin, we have no bridges, are lacking transportation and we need time to train.

We could not get ready for the war.

There was a meting held in the Operations Room in Army Headquarters. Mrs Gandhi came to the meeting. It is to the credit of Manekshaw that Mrs Gandhi was briefed as to why it is inadvisable to move in now and that the earliest date would be after the monsoon. He insisted on that and Mrs Gandhi accepted this.

As Army Chief, Manekshaw got along very well with Mrs Gandhi and others. He was able to get from the government the equipment and weapons that we required. He also got on with the bureaucracy but stood up to them.

It is to Sam8217;s credit that he stood up for the Army and did not let the bureaucracy ride over us. He maintained throughout the izzat of the Indian Army. That is one of his greatest contributions. He raised the prestige of the Indian army. We should not forget that.

Story continues below this ad

Sam was very gregarious, he mixed a lot, met people and was very popular with troops. He had a great personality and the ability to charm people. The Army needed someone and Sam was there. Sam became an icon.

8212; Lt Gen J F R Jacob was the Chief of Staff, Eastern Command during the 1971 war and negotiated the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers from General Niazi.

8226;Free from anxiety, perplexity and fear: Maj Gen retd S D Sood, who served as ADC to Manekshaw

8226;The troops8217; general: Former Army chief V P Malik

8226;Antony, service chiefs skip funeral

8226;He showed Indira Gandhi door, she made him Army chief