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| Sam Manekshaw---a tribute | | | | In the passing away of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who had led India to victory in Bangladesh war in 1971, this morning, India has lost one more icon among soldiers in the country. Sam Manekshaw, who breathed his last in a military hospital in Wellington in Tamil Nadu on Friday morning, after his prolonged illness, at the age of 94, had many medals to his credit. He had long association with Jammu and Kashmir state, where he served in various capacities as an army officer, winning wars fought by the country against Pakistani aggressions. In the 1947—1948 aggression by Pak raiders and regulars on Jammu and Kashmir, Sam Manekshaw rendered yeoman's service as an army officer to vacate the aggression and establish supremacy of Indian forces in J&K. Again in the 1965 Indo-Pak war on Kashmir, when the then Prime Minister of the country, Lal Bahadur Shastri opened the other front of Lahore, to divert the thrust of enemy from Jammu and Kashmir, Sam Manekshaw was the COC of the Northern command and under his creditable command, India won the war. However it was in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which as the Indian army Chief Sam Manekshaw won the war decisively leading to dismemberment of Pakistan and creation of sovereign state of Bangladesh, after the surrender of more than 90,000 Pakistani troops in the erstwhile East Pakistan, that Maneksahw won accolades. In recognition of his valour and services as a commander of high caliber in 1971 Indo-Pak war, Manekshaw was conferred with the award of honourary Field Marshal. After his retirement from the army service on January 15 1973, after fore decades of military service, Sam Manekshaw settled in Willington in Tamil Nadu. However even after his retirement he maintained a close rapport with the serving as well as ex soldiers of the Indian army, by joining many functions and rendering his inspiring advice and guidance to the personnel at all ranks in the Indian army. It is a matter of regret that none of the high dignitaries in the political establishment, including the Defense Minister A K Antony could make himself available and spare the time to participate in the last rites of a great soldier of the land. After the first Chief of the army staff Gen. Kariapa, it was Sam Manekshaw who commanded great respect and admiration of the people at large in the country besides among the army officers and personnel, for his brilliant commandership, bravery and valour as a soldier. The country is proud of all these soldiers of the motherland, who have made mark and achieved distinction, in the annals of Indian army and other forces. |
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