Requiem For A Field Marshal
By Admiral (Retd) Arun Prakash

Old soldiers never die, it used to be said, they just fade away. When a sovereign or head of state ceremonially presents a Field Marshal's baton to a soldier, he is conferring the highest honour a nation can bestow on one of its valorous warriors. Ironically, since Field Marshals are "created" for life, they never retire. They do, however, die.

In the passing away of Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, MC, the nation has lost not just a courageous soldier and a leader of great distinction, but a bold and upright son of India. The Gurkhali nom de guerre “Sam Bahadur” bestowed on him was a token of the tremendous respect and affection in which he was held by his comrades-in-arms, as well as of his personal courage for which he received a battlefield Military Cross during the Burma campaign.

When Indian forces liberated Bangladesh, taking 93,000 Pakistani combatants prisoner, it was indubitably one of the most comprehensive victories in India’s long history. The architect, undoubtedly, was Sam Manekshaw, who had the graciousness and strength of character to assign credit for this feat of arms to his Commanders-in-Chief and other subordinates. But of equal significance, in many ways, was Manekshaw’s conduct during a period of grave national crisis from April to December 1971, and the tact and firmness with which he guided the political leadership.

Blessed with the gift of sparkling wit and often wicked good humour, Sam had just the right blend of soldierly bearing and suave manners to make him an idol for officers and jawans alike. With his bristling moustache and twinkling eye, he was a hugely popular raconteur, and an immediate hit with the ladies because of the courtesy and attention he invariably showed them.

No man could have served his nation better, in word deed and action. A national icon, and hero of his times, the Field Marshal’s life contains many lessons, not just for soldiers but also for ordinary Indians, which one hopes will be studied and emulated.

After his death in the battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson’s mortal remains were carried home by ship. The state funeral accorded to this British hero on January 9, 1806 in St Paul’s cathedral was attended by members of the royal family, ministers, admirals, generals, 10,000 troops and almost all of London.

Present at Field Marshal Manekshaw’s funeral, held in distant Connoor, were students of the Defence Services Staff College, a lone Minister of State and a solitary Vice Chief of Army Staff from New Delhi.

— tempora o mores.

While the country remembers war heroes decorated for gallantry, few military leaders have fired the imagination of the nation like Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw did. Credit perhaps goes to the aura of legend around the man who led the Indian Army to its most decisive victory in the force's long and illustrious history. Part of the legend is due to his dapper personality and his ability to get in and out of trouble. It is a sad commentary on our nation that he is remembered not as much for leading the army to a magnificent victory than for the professional advice he rendered to the political leadership of the day.

Barring a few, most Indian war leaders or Generals who have captured the imagination of the countrymen landed on the loosing side of the battle. Porus, Maharana Pratap, Prithviraj Chauhan are some examples. Sam Bahadur is an exception who led the land forces in not only a decisive victory but also captained the side in a lightening campaign which saw the capture and surrender of an unbelievable 90,000 troops. Above all, it saw the birth of a new nation. Under his leadership, the Indian Army did not behave as the conquering army but remained a disciplined liberating force.

True he cannot be credited with winning the war single-handedly. His outstanding leadership and strategic vision will, however, continue to inspire the coming generations.

Well played Sam and well led.

We salute a hero and a role model.