Sam Manekshaw Age, Height, Death, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Sam Manekshaw

• Sam Maneskshaw was an Indian Army Officer who was the first officer in independent India to be conferred with the rank of Field Marshal.

• When Sam was a teenager, he wanted to go to London to study medicine and become a gynaecologist, but his father refused. He stated that his father would not let him go to London as he was very young to stay on his own. He joined the Indian Army as an act `of rebellion against his father.
  

  Sam Manekshaw’s Parents

• He had joined the first batch of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun in 1932. His batch had only 40 students, and they were called the Pioneers.

• When he was injured heavily while fighting for the British Army in World War 2, his Divisional Commander, Sir David Tennent Cowan, pinned his Military Cross on Sam’s chest and said- “A dead person cannot be awarded a Military Cross”.

• In the early 1960s, a court enquiry was ordered against him, which could have ended his career. Although the charges were never revealed, it is believed that the 1962 war against China saved him and led to Manekshaw being given the command of 4 corps.
  

  Sam Manekshaw After Being Commissioned As A Colonel Of 8 Gorkha Rifles

• On 8 July 1969, Sam Manekshaw was appointed as the eighth Army Chief of Staff by the Indira Gandhi Government.
  

  Sam Manekshaw Being Commissioned As The Chief Of Army Staff

• During the India-Pakistan war of 1971, Sam had led the Indian forces against Pakistan; which led to India’s victory and the creation of Bangladesh in December 1971.
  

  Sam Manekshaw During War

• In April 1971, Indira Gandhi asked Manekshaw if the Army was ready to attack Pakistan, to which Sam stated that an untimely attack would result in a defeat. He asked her for a few months to prepare.

• In December 1971, on the eve of war, Indira Gandhi asked Sam if he was ready. Sam replied- “I’m always ready, Sweetie“.
  

  Sam Manekshaw With Indira Gandhi

• He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1968 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1972 for his exemplary contributions towards the country.
  

  Sam Manekshaw Being Honoured With The Padma Vibhushan

• In January 1973, the month of his retirement, he was awarded the rank of Field Marshal. This made Sam Manekshaw the first Army officer of independent India to be awarded the highest rank of the Indian Army.
  

  Sam Manekshaw Being Commissioned As The Field Marshal

• During his career, Maneksaw had fought in 5 wars- World War 2, India Pakistan partition war, the Sino Indian War of 1962, the India Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971.
  

• He was very bold and straightforward. Sam would often take a stand against the Indian Government if he felt that the government’s decision would compromise the Army’s position in any way.

• Once he heard that the Pay Commission was going to reduce the allowance for the soldiers’ uniform. He went to the Pay Commission and stated- “Now gentlemen, you tell me, who would obey my orders if I was dressed in a crumpled dhoti and kurta“. This statement reportedly ended the debate.
  

  Sam Manekshaw Addressing A Guard Of Honour

• Once, in an interview, he was asked that what if he had opted for Pakistan during the partition, to which he replied- “Pakistan would have won all the wars”.

• He had always been over-critical of the Government and used to protest and resist orders regularly.

• He would go to any lengths to preserve the dignity of the Indian Army and always used to resist political pressure. Reportedly, he would often threaten to resign when the Government used to intervene in the Army’s work.
  

  Sam Manekshaw with Indira Gandhi

• Sam loved animals, especially dogs. He owned one when he was young.
  

  Sam Manekshaw with his pet dog

• Sam was a gardening enthusiast. He raised cows, hens, and honey bees in a shed close to his house. The eggs, milk, and honey produced by these animals were shared with his neighbours.
  

  A picture of Sam Manekshaw’s garden

  

  A picture of Sam Manekshaw’s house in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu

• He had a keen interest in cooking, mainly barbecuing. Chole Bhature was one of his favourite dishes.

• Sam had a hobby of collecting items such as soaps, matchboxes, and playing cards.

• He enjoyed Western classical music and owned speakers, turntables, and a collection of records.

• According to Brandy, Sam had a morning ritual where he would dress up, have breakfast, tend to his dogs and garden, and then reply to all his letters by sitting at his desk.

• In 2019, film director Meghna Gulzar announced that she’ll be releasing a film based on Sam Manekshaw, starring Vicky Kaushal.

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I feel honoured, emotional and proud of getting a chance to unfold the journey of this fearless patriot, the swashbuckling general, the first Field Marshal of India- SAM MANEKSHAW. Remembering him on his death anniversary today and embracing the new beginnings with @meghnagulzar and #RonnieScrewvala. @rsvpmovies

A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) on Jun 26, 2019 at 9:42pm PDT

• On 27 June 2008, he died of developing acute bronchopneumonia, a form of pneumonia, in the military hospital of Wellington, Tamil Nadu.

• A few days before his death, former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam had gone to visit him in the military hospital where Sam was admitted.
  

  Sam Manekshaw With Former President APJ Abdul Kalam

• After his death, there was anger among many factions of the society that a very modest funeral had been given to Manekshaw. People were upset that the last rites were held in Tamil Nadu and not in New Delhi. Reportedly, people were upset that it was a disgrace to his stature. Neither the Prime Minister, the President of India nor the Army Chief was present at the funeral. People demanded that he should have been given a grander funeral given his contributions to the country.
  

  Sam Manekshaw’s Funeral Procession

• On 11 September 2008, the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi named a flyover in Ahmedabad’s Shivranjani area after him.

• On 16 December 2008, a postage stamp depicting Manekshaw in his Field Marshal’s uniform was released by the former President of India, Pratibha Patil.
  

  Sam Manekshaw Stamp

• On 27 October 2009, Sam Manekshaw’s statue was unveiled near the headquarters of the Pune Cantonment on Infantry Day.
  

  Sam Manekshaw’s Statue

• On 3 April 2014, at the 100th birth anniversary of Sam Manekshaw, the former Army Chief, General Bikram Singh, unveiled his statue at the Manekshaw Auditorium in New Delhi. He also credited him for- “Creating a country on the globe in 13 days, in the form of Bangladesh in 1971“.
  

  Sam Manekshaw’s Statue Unveiled By Former Army Chief General Bikram Singh

• In 2024, Army Staff General V P Malik stated that Sam was one of the most deserving individuals to receive the Bharat Ratna. ^[2]The Indian Express