"I assure you certain death awaits you.”

This is the chilling message Pakistani soldiers heard on the radio during the 1971 war. It’s not everyday that this nation gives birth to a real hero. He was and is my hero for sure. Just imagine if this nation was run by a few good men like him. We might have had very few problems.
Here’s the brief profile I wrote of this great man for Mirror last year, when he slipped into a coma. My greatest regret: I badly wanted to go across and shake his hand in Coonoor, but sat on the idea for too long. Alas!

Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Manekshaw was born on April 3, 1914 in Amritsar, Punjab, to Parsi parents. After completing his schooling at the Sherwood College in Nainital, he joined the first batch of 40 cadets at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, in 1932. In 1937, at a social gathering in Lahore, he met his future wife, Silloo Bode. They fell in love and were married in 1939. Silloo was a graduate from Bombay’s Elphinstone College and had also studied at the JJ School of Arts.

Manekshaw became the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army in 1969, and under his command, the Indian forces achieved a resounding victory in the Indo-Pak war of 1971. He served in the army for four decades and saw five wars. The legendary soldier was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1968, the Padma Vibhushan in 1972 and was conferred the rank of Field Marshal on 1 January, 1973.

Today, at 94, the man who altered the map of South Asia, lives a secluded life in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. His bungalow, ‘Stavka’, is now a pilgrimage centre for army jawans.

At World War II

During World War II, Manekshaw saw action in the Burma campaign, and has the rare distinction of being honoured for his bravery on the battle front itself. He was leading a counter-offensive against the invading Japanese Army. During the course of the offensive, he was hit by a burst of machine gun 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, Cowan quickly pinned his own Military Cross ribbon on to Manekshaw saying, “A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross.”

The War of 1971

Manekshaw became the 8th Chief of Army Staff on June 7, 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, 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. Manekshaw masterminded the rout of the Pakistan Army in one of the quickest victories in recent military history, it took all of 14 days to teach our neighbour a lesson they’ll never forget. The victory led to the creation of the nation of Bangladesh as separate from Pakistan.

A MAN OF STEEL, AND GREAT WIT

• In 1961, he refused to toe the line of the then Defence Minister, V.K. Krishna Menon, and was sidelined. But after the Indian army suffered a humiliating defeat, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru rushed Manekshaw to command the retreating Indian forces. This had an electrifying effect on the demoralised officers. Manekshaw convinced the troops that the Chinese soldier was not “10 feet tall”. His first order of the day: “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.

• Once, he sent a packet to the leader of a battalion whose troops were reluctant to attack the enemy camp. A parcel containing bangles was delivered to the commanding officer with his compliments and a cryptic note: “If you are avoiding contact with the hostile, give these to your men to wear.” The next few weeks saw a flurry of activity by this battalion, resulting in another message: “Send the bangles back.”

• After the 1971 war, Manekshaw, while visiting military hospitals to see jawans and officers, was encountered with a soldier who had five bullet injuries. While patting the injured soldier to boost his morale, the Army Chief said “Look, you’ve got five bullets in your body, I had seven bullets at your age and today I am Chief”!


RUN-INS WITH INDIRA

Manekshaw shared a love-hate relationship with Indira, and he used to often negate her suggestions. Once, following the 1971 war against Pakistan, Indira confronted him about rumours that he was planning a coup against her. “Don’t you think I would not be a worthy replacement for you, Madam? You have a long nose, so have I. But I don’t poke my nose in other people’s affairs,” he joked. Needless to say, the no-nonsense Ms Gandhi walked away in a huff.