Nov 30, 2023, 10:40 AM IST
Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, also known as Sam Manekshaw, was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal for his service as the Chief of Army Staff during the Indo-Pak War of 1971.
Sam Manekshaw was born in a Parsi family and his father Hormusji Manekshaw was a doctor. He wanted to go to London to study medicine, but his father refused. In an act of rebellion, he sat for the entrance examination for enrolment into the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun.
Manekshaw cleared it in his first attempt and became part of the first intake of 40 cadets on 1 Oct 1932. He graduated from IMA on 4 Feb 1934 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the British Indian Army (which later became the Indian Army after Independence).
In his military career, Manekshaw fought five wars, beginning with service in the British Indian Army in World War II. He also played a crucial role in the Indo-Pak War of 1947 and the Hyderabad crises of 1948. Manekshaw then led the Indian Army and came out victorious in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
Manekshaw’s military career spanned four decades, from the British era and World War II to the three wars against Pakistan and China after India’s independence in 1947. He held several regimental, staff and command assignments during his service.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Manekshaw was reassigned to the 8th Gorkha Rifles. Being a beloved of the Gorkhas, he was welcomed by Nepal as an honorary general of their army in 1972. Manekshaw once said, "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gorkha."
As per one of Manekshaw's interviews, he once visited a battalion of 8 Gorkha Rifles in July 1969. He asked an orderly if he knew the name of his chief. The orderly replied that he did and said "Sam Bahadur". This eventually became Manekshaw's nickname.
A biographical war drama based on field marshal Sam Manekshaw is releasing on 1Dec 2023. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the movie is starring Vicky Kaushal as Sam Manekshaw. The movie also stars Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sanya Malhotra in pivotal roles.