Sam Bahadur

Sam Manekshaw is among the first batch of gentleman cadets trained at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. He navigates the early years alongside his junior rival, Tikka Khan, shaping his competitive spirit. This period lays the foundations for his lifelong military ethos.

After graduation, Manekshaw is commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 12th Frontier Force Regiment and posted to Ferozpur. He meets Siloo Bode, who would become his wife. These early assignments mark the start of his long service.

In 1942, Manekshaw is promoted to acting major and deployed to Burma as part of the Burma campaign. During the Battle of Sittang Bridge he is wounded in action but survives, earning the Military Cross for gallantry. His actions contribute to the Allied efforts in Southeast Asia.

In 1947, during the partition, he is approached to join the Pakistan Army but remains with the Indian Army. In October 1947, he is sent to Kashmir with V. P. Menon to secure accession for India, and Indian forces counter-attack. The war ends in a stalemate with India retaining Kashmir through a military and diplomatic response.

As a major general and Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Manekshaw resists political interference from Krishna Menon and Kaul. Kaul engineers a court-martial on impropriety to hamper his promotion, but the charges are dismissed and he is exonerated by his superiors.

The Sino-Indian War erupts and the Indian Army suffers a setback, prompting Kaul to resign while Nehru dismisses Menon. The leadership crisis prompts a reevaluation of India’s strategic command. Manekshaw’s stature begins to rise as the crisis deepens.

On Indira Gandhi's advice, Nehru promotes Manekshaw to lieutenant-general and assigns him as the commanding officer of IV Corps at Tezpur. He advocates for an offensive, but political hesitation in New Delhi stalls a rapid advance. The protracted stand-off shapes his later strategy.

Nehru dies in 1964, and Manekshaw is promoted to General Officer Commanding Eastern Command, strengthening India’s northern-eastern defenses. By 1966, Indira Gandhi becomes prime minister and relies on his seasoned leadership to navigate regional security challenges. His role anchors India’s eastern use of force and diplomacy.

Between 1965 and 1967, Manekshaw leads anti-insurgency operations against the Mizo National Front in the Northeast. His effectiveness earns him the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honors. The award reflects his administrative and military proficiency in the region.

In 1969, Manekshaw is appointed Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). By 1970, growing unrest in East Pakistan leads Yahya Khan to authorize military action against Bengali nationalists, setting the stage for a broader conflict. He prepares the army for potential large-scale engagement.

As tensions escalate, Indira Gandhi weighs war options but urges restraint while the army begins mobilizing and training the Mukti Bahini. Manekshaw advises a measured approach to avoid unnecessary risks. The stage is set for a forthcoming conflict, but strategy remains under careful discussion.

Pakistan’s eastern front is overwhelmed and on December 16, 1971, Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrender to the Indian Eastern Command. The war concludes with a decisive Indian victory and a significant political shift for Indira Gandhi. Yahya Khan resigns in the wake of the defeat.

With retirement approaching, Indira Gandhi promotes Manekshaw to Field Marshal in recognition of his wartime leadership. He accepts the honor in January 1973, just weeks before his planned retirement from active service.