The 14 th death anniversary of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was observed on Monday at Wellington Military Station, Coonoor.
Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was perhaps a one-off military general who caught the nation by storm.
His decorated military career spanned four decades, which witnessed the transition of our armed forces from British India Army to the Indian Army.
After graduating from IMA, Manekshaw was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the British Indian Army in 1934.
According to Manekshaw, a ‘yes man’ is a dangerous man. He famously said -- A 'yes man' can become a minister, a secretary or a Field Marshall but he can never become a leader nor, ever be respected.
He was infamous with the country’s bureaucracy and held no high opinion of the politicians. He made his dislike public and was often quoted as disapproving of the political elite.
He was perhaps the only person who addressed Indira Gandhi as “Prime Minister” instead of “Madam”.
He eventually became the Chief of Army Staff in June 1969.