Sam Manekshaw and Obama

On June 27th, India’s Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji “Sam Bahadur” Jamshedji Manekshaw died at age 94. Manekshaw was one of the heros of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, and an extremely popular figure in India:

Sam Manekshaw, who has died at the age of 94, was the first general of the modern Indian army to be made a field marshal; he was awarded this honorary rank in 1973, at the end of his four years as chief of army staff. His career lasted almost four decades, saw five wars, and culminated in his successful masterminding of the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. [Link]

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p>As an ABD I had never heard of Sam Bahadur until somebody sent me this statement from the Obama campaign:

“I offer my deep condolences to the people of India, on the passing of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. He was a legendary soldier, a patriot, and an inspiration to his fellow citizens. Field Marshal Manekshaw provided an example of personal bravery, self-sacrifice, and steadfast devotion to duty that began before India’s independence, and will deservedly be remembered far into the future.” [Link]

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p>Who in the campaign knew about Manekshaw? The new India brain trust had:

Obama’s statement is a product of a new India policy team set up two weeks ago within his campaign team. The team, co-chaired by two prominent Indian-Americans Vinod Khosla and Swadesh Chatterjee, includes some 20 Indian-Americans and South Asia experts from Bill Clinton’s administration. A key member of the team and the only Indian-American in Obama’s inner circle is Preeta Bansal, a Harvard Law School colleague of Obama. [Link]

What benefit does the campaign get from this? It wont help them with this Indian government if Obama becomes POTUS; neither the defense minister, nor the service chiefs, nor a single member of parliament were at the funeral.

I think it’s a symbolic gesture to the uncle generation, both in the USA and in India where the short PR has gotten a good deal of press coverage. To understand how popular Manekshaw was in his day, consider how threatening Indira Gandhi found him:

… his popularity was such that the premier reportedly confronted him with rumours that he was planning a coup against her. He is said to have replied: “Don’t you think I would be a worthy replacement for you, madam prime minister? You have a long nose. So have I. But I don’t poke my nose into other people’s affairs…” [Link]

It’s a small gesture, but it’s brilliantly coded. The generation of immigrants who remember Manekshaw fondly will feel warm and fuzzy about Obama, and Obama can accomplish this cheaply without antagonizing the non-desi voters who are concerned about the loss of jobs to India and who might feel threatened by a more overt approach.

68 thoughts on “Sam Manekshaw and Obama

  1. He looms large on Indian history for near 75 years.

    First, as an officer in British Indian Army at the Burmah Front in WW II, he almost died, and his superior officer awarded him a medal on the battlefront, while he was bleeding.

    In 1947, he worked tirelessly to lessen the bloodshed of partition.

    In 1962, he almost turned around the morale of Indian soldiers during the last leg of India-China border war.

    He openly disagreed with Indira Gandhi and her cabinet about the timing, prepardeness of Indian Army, and the nature of Indian intervention in East Pakistan crisis in 1972, and he did prevail over all of them. At the first unconditional surrender after WW II in 1972, he asked Eastern Sector Commander, Maj. Gen. JS Aurora to be the face of the formal surrender ceremony instead of him. Maj. Gen. Aurora knew some of the Pakistani Generals from pre-partition days, and requested the ceremony be sombre, and with no outward show of humilation.

    He was on many MNC boards after active service.

    Probably, there will be no soldier-gentlemen in India like him.

    He was @ my cousin sister’s wedding years ago, and I missed meeting him in person by few minutes.

  2. I’m surprised there wasn’t a post mentioning Sam Bahadur’s death on this site, although I suppose this will do. Kush Tandon, i agree with you in that there probably won’t be a soldier like him for quite some time.

  3. I’m surprised there wasn’t a post mentioning Sam Bahadur’s death on this site

    I’d never heard of him before now. Remember, he stepped down in 1973.

  4. I’d never heard of him before now. Remember, he stepped down in 1973.

    Sure, if you are born and raised in US, you would not hear about him in 70s onwards.

    However, he was very visible in India till he died. He sat on hazaar boards, be on TV, and even with harmful, baselss rumors about his patriotism (which I will not repear in his memorium).

    In a way, he was what General MacArthur was with his ivory pistol, and sunglasses for US, amd General Moshe Dayan with one eye patch for Israel, he with his really thick mustache, the face of reasserting India after the humilation of 1962.

  5. Ennis, solid points. The broader context here is the increasing internationalization of US politics, and the increasing importance of ‘home country issues’ for the diaspora’s view of a candidate, especially for someone like Obama, whose support base has significant numbers of South Asians. And this might also be a more cynical attempt to pull in the more conservative and older Indian-American voter, for whom Manekshaw’s image and mystique might have some resonance.

    Part of the reason Manekshaw may not be as well known, especially among ABDs, is that, flamboyant though he could be in his personal demeanor, he rightly allowed Lt Gen JS Aurora to take virtually all the credit for the Bangladesh War. He is missing from the famous ‘surrender ceremony‘ photograph. Manekshaw’s singular contribution to that war was in the advance planning, and especially in standing up to politicians – and had it put off from roughly May 1971 to November-December 1971. He had been Aurora’s predecessor in Eastern Command just before becoming Chief, and during the 1965 War, he argued strongly that action on the Eastern Front in that war be limited and defensive. This may also have contributed to the goodwill among the local population six years later in 1971, which was critical to the swift liberation of Bangladesh.

    BTW, I’ve blogged a tribute here.

  6. Kusg, thanks for the recap. Sam Bahadur was a soldier’s soldier wedded to the classical tenets of professional soldiering. He was deeply respected by his adversaries in a way few victorious generals are. He never deviated from Chetwode’s creed country first, the comfort and welfare of men next, and one’s own comfort last. Reportedly he made it a point to to keep himself up to date about the welfare of the >93,000 POWs from Pakistan during their incarceration in India after 1971, as much as he followed up with respect to the welfare of Indian POWs in Pakistan. One more point Kush. It was Lt.Gen.J. S. Arora not Maj.Gen.

    The Obama campaign deserves praise for its fine gesture. Preeta Bansal is also the first Hindu on the Us Congress’s committee in international religious freedom, and is a W admin appointee.

  7. 3 · Ennis said

    I’m surprised there wasn’t a post mentioning Sam Bahadur’s death on this site
    Hey dumb ass! Being an ABD, you should be excused for your limited knowledge of the world! Douche!
  8. I first learned about Manekshaw in the documentary “Life and Death of a Dynasty” which aired shortly after Rajiv Gandhi’s assasinnation. The film-makers interviewed him extensively, particularly about the 1971 war. He was very blunt in talking with Indira Gandhi, and seemed very well-grounded. When he told Gandhi about some setbacks in the war, Gandhi replied, “You can’t win every day Sam.” It should be available on DVD. Lloyd and Susan Rudolph, two of my professors from U of Chicago, are also featured prominently in the documentary.

  9. Preeta Bansal is also the first Hindu on the Us Congress’s committee in international religious freedom, and is a W admin appointee.

    Is this true? There is no reference to her being appointed by W on her profile, but rather the citation below.

    Bansal worked in the Clinton Administration from 1993 to 1996 as a Counselor in the U.S. Department of Justice and as a White House Special Counsel.
  10. If I am not mistaken he was also a Parsi. Parsis have been long regarded as a model minority. They are in great minority but have produced leaders in many fields (Tatas ( I think), Manekshaw, Zubin Mehta etc).

  11. clever stuff from the obama campaign!

    manekshaw was indeed parsi, and was an awesome guy all-around. old-school wit and honor — even though i’m an abd, i did read about him much in college in a history class. i was pleasantly surprised to see the obama campaign catch this and get free advertising

  12. Hey dumb ass! Being an ABD, you should be excused for your limited knowledge of the world! Douche!

    I’m not sure who is being called a french shower, but there’s no reason for name calling here.

  13. Field Marshall manekshaw embodied the finest tradition of soldiering and military leadership right down to the handlebar mustache. He wasn’t afraid to speak truth to power. I can’t believe that India’s current defense minister didn’t bother to show up at his funeral. A relative by marriage was lost in the sino-indian border war. His remains were found many years later. Thanks to Obama for showing the class to honor a great Indian!

  14. As an “auntie” who was a young awestruck girl during Sam Manekshaw’s jaunty tenure, I too am impressed by the Obama campaign’s ear to the ground. What is totally baffling (or may be not so?) is the Indian political establishment’s snub to the dead general.

    Here is a personal recollection from journalist Manoj Joshi. Joshi sounds a bit sentimental – a departure from his usually detached reporterial style. But that may be because he had met his father’s boss as a child.

    Thanks Ennis, for a timely tribute to the Field Marshal.

  15. Manekshaw loved bikes as well and bought a James motorcycle from a British Officer for 1600 Rupees in 1947. Just two days before partition, his good friend Major Yahya Khan, who went on to become President of Pakistan, begged Manekshaw to sell him the bike. “What will I use?” asked Manekshaw. To which Yahya replied, “Sir, you will get everything in India, we will get nothing in Pakistan.” Manekshaw agreed to sell the bike for a Thousand Rupees and said, “Okay, Yahya take it!” Yahya looked at his superior and said, “Sir, I haven’t got a thousand. I will send it to you.” Manekshaw was never paid the thousand rupees but says, “Yahya made up for it by giving me the whole of East Pakistan!”

  16. 15 · Samir said

    Okay, Yahya take it!” Yahya looked at his superior and said, “Sir, I haven’t got a thousand. I will send it to you.” Manekshaw was never paid the thousand rupees but says, “Yahya made up for it by giving me the whole of East Pakistan!”

    LOLOL hahahaha

  17. This is ridiculous. Indian politicans don’t comment on such internal matters of other countries. These Indian advisers should not attempt to “play” Indian politics while in another country.

    Talwar

  18. Channeling manekshaw! This obama bin laden is very clever. oops, i meant barack osama. oops..

  19. motive? perhaps increased fund raising among indians. it costs little to no energy or political capital to offer a tribute. but, it’s noteworthy enough (like at this site) to catch our attention and make us feel warm inside…and included. where’s my checkbook.

  20. motive? perhaps increased fund raising among indians. it costs little to no energy or political capital to offer a tribute. but, it’s noteworthy enough (like at this site) to catch our attention and make us feel warm inside…and included. where’s my checkbook.

    The dismemberment of Pakistan makes you feel warm inside? Careful sir this is a South Asian blog 😉

  21. While reading the link: “neither the defense minister, nor the service chiefs, nor a single member of parliament”; I came across this piece of buffonery:

    “The astute military leader who led India to its greatest military victory in the 1971 war for Bangladesh (the last such decisive military victory for Bharat was under Chandragupta Maurya in 300 BC!) “

    The commodore is a fool. He flails some folks for forgetting this man, but he puts down all the warriors in between Maurya and 1971. Indeed, Maratha and Sikh Confederacies lost a lot more warriors while overthrowing Mughal tyranny than did India in ’71 and their victories were even greater.

    Talwar

  22. A truly great man and soldier passes. According to his wikipedia entry, his last words reportedly were “I’m okay!”

  23. Manekshaw referred to Mrs. Gandhi as “Sweetie”..That could catch Obama’s attention. He looked at Indira Gandhi as a youngster. “…I’ve always referred to her as girl” as he says in the CD below.

    http://www.unescoparzor.com/samcd.html


    Just before the Bangladesh operations in December 1971, the then prime minister Indira Gandhi asked Manekshaw ,who was the Army Chief then, “General are you ready” (for the war). Pat came the reply from the dapper officer, “I am always ready sweetie.” Indira was not unpleased, nor offended. On another occasion, Indira asked him whether he was planning to take over the country. Pointing to his long nose, the General replied: “I don’t use it to poke into other’s affairs.”

    When Indira asked him to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of Pakistani forces, Manekshaw declined, magnanimously saying that honour should go to his Army commander in the East (Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora). Manekshaw said he would only go if it were to accept the surrender of the entire Pakistani army.


    He was summoned to a meeting of the Cabinet where, as he recalled later, everyone present at the meeting was vying with the others to present to the prime minister his grasp of the situation and offering one suggestion after another as to what should be done. After hearing most of the speakers, the prime minister enquired whether the officiating army chief, until then a silent spectator, had something to say. “I am afraid they are enacting Hamlet without the Prince,” he said. “I will now tell you exactly what has happened, and how I intend to deal with the situation.” He then proceeded to do so.


    He took over 4 Corps on 28th November 1962 on promotion to lieutenant general, and the same day addressed a conference of what must surely have been a very shaken group of staff officers. He entered the room with his usual jaunty step, looked as if he were meeting each eye trained on him and said, ‘Gentleman, I have arrived! There will be no more withdrawals in 4 Corps, thank you;’ and walked out. But the charisma that surrounds the man had preceded him and soldier and officer alike knew the ‘chosen one’ had arrived and henceforth all would be well. It was as if the dark and oppressive atmosphere had suddenly been lightened and Sam was the bearer of the light.


    He once met Lieutenant General Kulwant Singh, at that time commanding Western Army and an awe-inspiring man, in a jacket that could best he described as a cross between a regulation shirt and bush shirt. When the army commander pointed this out he was asked: “Have you come to see my formation or my dress?”


    Bengal in those days was a very troubled state where anarchy was prevalent, and law and order was almost on the way out. Sam was traveling to Dum Dum airport, Calcutta, once when he found the road blocked for traffic by a huge crowd being harangued by one person. The outrider and the staff officer accompanying him both advised a detour, but this would have meant running away and would have been noticed by the locals. So he got out of his staff car instead, and started walking up to the speaker who, he discovered to his disquiet as he approached, was a ‘huge fellow, well over six feet tall.’ Anyway, hiding his mounting uneasiness, he put his hand out and announced, ‘I am Sam Manekshaw.’ This unsettled the other person somewhat as he had probably anticipated an argument. He too, put his hand out and mumbled his name. He was then asked to clear the road, as otherwise ‘I shall miss my plane.’ The speaker, by now completely confused, hastened to obey, and the last glimpse the army commander had of his latest acquaintance was of that worthy helping to clear the road.


    On 22nd February 1942, occurred the much publicised event when Sam was wounded. The retreat through the Burma jungle ended abruptly for him on 22nd February 1942, when seven bullets from a Japanese machine gun whipped through his body. The young captain who had just led two companies in the courageous capture of a vital hill was awarded the Military Cross. “We made an immediate recommendation,” a senior officer explained, “because you can’t award a dead man the Military Cross.”


    His mastery of detail was fantastic and, as I was to learn later, he could quote an answer given verbally or in writing months previously to correct someone who was saying something else. A battalion employed in the Mizo Hills, paying perhaps a little more attention to the welfare of its troops and, in the process, a little less than desirable to the operational side received a rude reminder that ‘someone up there’ was watching, very keenly, every move that was made. A parcel of bangles was delivered to the commanding officer with the compliments of the army commander with a cryptic note: ‘If you are avoiding contact with the hostile give these to your men to wear.” Needless to say, the next few weeks saw a flurry of activity by this battalion resulting in another, more soothing message: ‘send the bangles back.’


    When the wife of a former army chief asked Manekshaw how he managed to remember the first names of most army wives, the field marshal remarked there are two things no honourable man should forget: His wife’s birthday and the first name of the women around.


    In the meantime, Manekshaw’s boat had got working and he was already back safe and sound. In a spontaneous gesture the smartly uniformed “Sam Bahadur” hugged my towel-clad father and uttered: “You are a bloody bahadur civilian, my friend.” A cocky junior standing close by had the temerity to say: “Is this little island really worth all this risk, sir?” Pat came the reply from a glaring Manekshaw: “Every inch of Indian territory is worth it, you idiot!”


    The Field Marshal’s wit was legendary. Once on a visit to his unit as Commanding Officer he asked what action was taken against a man who contracted veneral disease and when he was told the man’s head was shaved off, he roared. “Shaved off? Dammit. he didn’t do it with his head.”


    Lt-General A.K. Kalkat, a former army commander in Manekshaw’s regiment, remembers a conversation between Manekshaw and a general accused of misusing funds: “Sir, do you know what you are saying?” asked the general. “You are accusing a general of being dishonest.” Replied Manekshaw: “Your chief is not only accusing you of being dishonest but also calling you a thief. If I were you I would go home and either shoot myself or resign. I am waiting to see what you will do.” The general submitted his resignation.


    Following Pakistan’s surrender in the east, Manekshaw flew into Calcutta to compliment his officers. The ceremonial reception over at Dum Dum airport, he was escorted to a car — a Mercedes captured from the enemy. Manekshaw refused to sit in it, leaving the officers red-faced.


    On one occasion, he found that the defence secretary had penned his own observations on a note he had written to the prime minister and defence minister. Infuriated, Manekshaw took the file and walked straight into Mrs Gandhi’s office. He told her that if she found the defence secretary more competent than him to advise her on military matters she did not have a need for him. The defence secretary was found a new job.


    Dixit also recounts the delightful episode of Mrs Gandhi chiding General Manekshaw for drinking during military briefings, to which he replied, “Madam, the brand name of the whisky is Black Dog, which [President] Yahya Khan drinks. I am quite sure that I shall overdrink him and outfight him. Please do not get angry.”


    In 1967 I joined his staff at Kolkata. Soon after my arrival I sent a paper up for his signature with the file note, “The Army Commander may sign if he approves.” Within 10 minutes Sam breezed into my cabin holding my file at arm’s length, asking, “Is this offending file yours? What do you mean by saying ‘the Army Commander may sign if he approves?’ What do you think I have brought you here for? If you consider that I must sign this paper, just say so and I will sign!” He had ensured that I was not diminished in the eyes of my intervening superiors, and that I was encouraged to take decisions even on his behalf. During my service of 35 years I rarely came across officers who went to such lengths to groom their subordinates.


    Manekshaw also re-emphasised the dignity of soldiering in the corridors of power in New Delhi. On a rather warm day the Defence Secretary , Harish Sarin, a very powerful civil servant, upon entering the Ministry’s conference room said to a Colonel sitting close to a window, “You there, open that window!” Before the Colonel could get up came a sharp “Sit down” came from Manekshaw, who had also just entered from another door. Turning to the Secretary, he said, “Mr. Secretary, don’t you ever address one of my officers in that tone of voice. You may say, “Sam, would you please open that window, and I will open the window for you. That officer is a Colonel, and not ‘You there’.”


    An American Diplomat asked Gen. Manekshaw, “So, general, when are you taking power”?. Pat came the answer, “Why, right after Gen. Westmoreland takes over, of course!”


    After retirement, Sam Bahadur came to Indore, where the citizenry had organised a civic reception in a public auditorium. Manekshaw was mobbed by crowds shouting “Manekshaw ki jai”, and reached the podium with difficulty. The keynote speaker began a speach in Hindi, running to the effect that:

    “We have in our midst today, a soldier whose very name is synonymous with valour. He makes us remember Rana Pratap, Jhansi ki Rani, and the gallant Shivaji, whose deeds form our national heritage”. When we hear him speak, the blood courses through our veins with greater speed”, etc. for the next hour or so.

    Sam was then requested to speak. He too, spoke in Hindi, saying:

    “I have only one request. Could I have an English translation of the speech I just heard? I want to give it to my wife. Whenever I tell her that I am a big man, a great man, she doesnt even listen. Perhaps after reading this, she will believe me!”

    This brought the house down, and the ovation went on, ad infinitum.

  24. Something that most people dont realize that the Indian Army has constantly refused and still refuses to involve itself in civilian polity. Unlike many armies of many other infant democracies, it is to the credit of the Army that so far there has not been a whiff of martial law at any time. the likes of Sam Manekshaw need to take credit for such success. The armed forces are not needed for a smooth transfer of power.

  25. My dad served the Indian Army in both the 1962 Sino-Indian war and the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. In the 1971 war, he was infact posted on the East Pakistan border. My childhood was spent listening to stories about war, life in armed services in general and how proud my dad was to serve under the able leadership of the then Chief of Army Staff Sam Manekshaw. To say he was just a fan of this brave Indian soldier would be an understatement. He absolutely adored Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

    My dad passed away in 2002 and Sam in 2008. I don’t know if there is such thing called an afterlife, certainly there isn’t but just like in a child’s fairytale imagination, I can’t help but wish today that somewhere out there Sam & my dad are shaking hands together. A 21 gun salute to the two brave Indian soldiers I ever knew! Thanks Ennis for this post, in whatever context, though.

  26. You can tell something about a culture from its heroes – even when their followers betray the standards they set. It is oddly reassuring that the most famous Indian heroes (Ashoka, Akbar, Guru Gobind Singh, the much vilified and oddly problematic Shivaji and of course Gandhi) come from diverse religious backgrounds. Add Sam’s name to that list.

  27. much vilified and oddly problematic Shivaji

    Much Vilified? By Whom?

    Literally everything in Maharashtra is named after him. Every political party there tries to appropriate his legacy.

  28. What has Sam Manekshaw got to do with Obama?. The former successfully broke Pakistan into two. The later is thinking about attacking Pakistan. could that be the reason?.

  29. 20 · louiecypher said

    louiecypher on July 2, 2008 07:50 PM · Direct link · “Quote”(?)The dismemberment of Pakistan makes you feel warm inside? Careful sir this is a South Asian blog 😉

    South Asia includes Bangladesh, right? Or is it only one nation? Careful sir! This is a South Asian blog!

  30. Samir, you may end up in the brig for linking to jingo site. this site for DIE progeny onlee.

  31. 31 · Hindu said

    Samir, you may end up in the brig for linking to jingo site. this site for DIE progeny onlee.

    Bharat-Rakshak has the most comprehensive information on Indian defense related matters. It is not a “jingo site”.

    The forum has a thread on Sam Maneskshaw’s passing, that has some really nice footage linked for those interested in learning more about him.

  32. BTW. Does anyone have a link / text to Manekshaw’s speech on leadership? I heard it once, but am unable to get any info on it

  33. From what I recall, Maneckshaw and his like were popular and respected figures before “celebrity” ever became part of the lexicon. We have lost a lot.

  34. …and correct if i am wrong but – Doesn’t Sam M look like an older Freddy B. in that pic?

  35. On 16th December 1971 nearly 100,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered unconditionally to the Indian Army. An Indian Army whose Commander was a Parsi named Sam Manekshaw; the Indian General who accepted the disgraced Pakistani Army’s surrender was a Sikh named Jagjit Singh Arora; Gen. Arora’s second in command during the war was a Jewish General named Jacob-Farj-Rafael Jacob. I was a thirteen year old boy during the 1984 anti Sikh pogrom in Delhi, so I know all too well that the land of my birth has a long way to go, but I cannot help but also admire her for how far she has come.

  36. 32 · DizzyDesi said

    31 · Hindu said
    Samir, you may end up in the brig for linking to jingo site. this site for DIE progeny onlee.
    Bharat-Rakshak has the most comprehensive information on Indian defense related matters. It is not a “jingo site”. The forum has a thread on Sam Maneskshaw’s passing, that has some really nice footage linked for those interested in learning more about him.

    The website bharat-rakshak.com is amazing. I love it. Anyways, I’d love to hear Gen. Manekshaw sing “Bohemian Rapsody”. He probably wouldn’t be too emotional during the first lyric: “I just killed a maaaannnnn….”

  37. Bharat-Rakshak is the most authoritative and comprehensive source of information on Indian military affairs worldwide. Period. Even its Forums that contain a few rants here and there (among the 1000s of posts) are a treasure trove of first hand information. The site has been a pure voluntary effort from Day 1 and although its advertising potential runs into the millions, the webmasters have been steeadfast in their determination to keep it free. Even after having some very strict registration and posting norms it is almost impossible to remove puerile posts immediately. There is an entire thread for banned posters, if you are interested. BR webmasters are now in elite company, some of them even serving as peer reviewers for scholarly journals.

  38. …and correct if i am wrong but – Doesn’t Sam M look like an older Freddy B. in that pic?

    … including the famous protruding teeth of Farouk Balsara which could be attributed to Parsi inbreeding 😉

  39. Of course, bharat-rakshak is one of the best, heads above your typical “south asian” gossip rag. Jingo is a positive term on BR. Every tenderfoot Indian should be required to spend an hour a day on BR to preempt becoming a South Asian duncehead.

  40. Of course, bharat-rakshak is one of the best, heads above your typical “south asian” gossip rag. Jingo is a positive term on BR. Every tenderfoot Indian should be required to spend an hour a day on BR to preempt becoming a South Asian duncehead.

    Right now it looks like India is going to be a Chinese vassal state…..calisthenics/drills/target practice might be a better use of that hour

  41. The generation of immigrants who remember Manekshaw fondly will feel warm and fuzzy about Obama, and Obama can accomplish this cheaply without antagonizing the non-desi voters who are concerned about the loss of jobs to India and who might feel threatened by a more overt approach.

    Is the whole ‘South Asian’ blog thing being retired?

  42. 43 · Pagal_Aadmi_for_debauchery said

    Is the whole ‘South Asian’ blog thing being retired?

    Come on, Pagal_Admi! Manekshaw was widely respected and honored throughout South Asia. Bangladeshis loved him, Nepalis loved him for being a ‘Gurkha officer’, not even Pakistanis had a bad word for him – the POWs were treated well, he was certainly gentlemanly in war and quite magnanimous in victory – and, although he was himself born in Amritsar, he met his wife in Lahore, pre-Partition. And then there’s this:

    In November 1971, when we were awaiting orders from the government, Manekshaw addressed a huge gathering of soldiers all keyed up to advance into Pakistan. He very forcefully stressed that we must treat all women in Pakistan with great respect and consideration. In the middle of his address, he suddenly pointed to a burly soldier of the Sikh Light Infantry, “O, tera dhiyan kithe wey! Yad rakhin Pakistan vich sarian zenanian terian Mawan te bhainan hon gian!” (Hey, what are you thinking of! Remember to treat all women in Pakistan like your mother and sisters). The impact was instant and electric, and the message went home.

    Link

    So Manekshaw, was, if anything, a true South Asian figure. Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Nepalis can all claim him in their own way. There’s no need to see him exclusively as Indian in the narrow sense.

  43. Chachaji goes a bit far, I can’t see Paksitanis, or Nepalis, etc claiming Manekshaw as their own, but I think Paagal Admi is wrong. I’ve never read anything negative about mankeshw in the Pakistani press — he gets a lot less abuse than Yahya Khan (everyone loves a winner!)

    Even recently Cowasjee wrote: I were in uniform, I would have saluted General Pervez Musharraf,” Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw said, reacting to the controversey over Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis not saluting the Pakistan president during his recent visit.”

    (Technically — Ennis only said that those immigrants who look upon the Indian Manekshaw fondly will be well disposed to obama. The rest…?)

  44. Chachaji: I know what you are saying and mostly agree. My comment was not serious though. I guess my lame attempt at snark failed. We all cant be Manju I guess.

  45. In the middle of his address, he suddenly pointed to a burly soldier of the Sikh Light Infantry, “O, tera dhiyan kithe wey! Yad rakhin Pakistan vich sarian zenanian terian Mawan te bhainan hon gian!” (Hey, what are you thinking of! Remember to treat all women in Pakistan like your mother and sisters).

    That must have sucked to be the burly jawan. He could have been off on a reverie about butterflies or jilebi and suddenly he gets pointed out as a badmaash with pillaging on the brain.

    I have a hard time believing that anyone in Pakistan would think of him fondly. Has anyone seen any editorial comment on this in Dawn or other Pak papers? Maybe the Pak officer corp of that generation as they were all once colleagues/friends. I am always surprised how collegial they seemed in their correspondence/negotiations

  46. I met Manekshaw on a school trip where we stopped by his awesome home in Ooty. He gave us a tour of the place, recounted some quick tales, and was very gracious all in all.

    RIP

  47. FWIW. During the end of 1971 war, We heard Sam Manekshaw over the radio addressing the Pakistani soldiers in East Bengal. He said “certain fate” awaits them if they continue to fight and do not surrender. The war ended soon with the surrender of Pakistani army in the East.

    RIP

  48. louiecypher

    I have a hard time believing that anyone in Pakistan would think of him fondly. Has anyone seen any editorial comment on this in Dawn or other Pak papers?

    here are some …

    From Dawn

    Manekshaw’s war By Commodore (retired) Najeeb Anjum For 36 years now India’s first field marshal has been the icon of heroism…..
    Clerics, generals and civilian rule … How one wishes that somewhere down the years Pakistan had an army chief like Sam Manekshaw who told a nervous Indira Gandhi during the seventies, ‘Prime Minister, you don’t interfere in my affairs and I wouldn’t in yours. …’
    The dirty game By Ardeshir Cowasjee … Let us take the attitude of another army man, a man from our neighbour India, a fellow Zoroastrian, the highly respected Field Marshal Sam Maneckshaw. When in Delhi last year I had the privilege of meeting him. Now almost ninety, he stands as straight as an arrow, and like a good soldier can look down over a belt that does not sag, over a flat stomach, and see his shoelaces. And, like a good soldier he does not dye his hair or his bristling moustache. They have grown into a natural, distinguished and becoming grey …