Sam Manekshaw, one of India’s most brave, praised, and honoured army leaders, is renowned for his extraordinary four-decade career in the Indian Army. Sam, a recipient of the highest awards given out by the Indian government, had a difficult career as an army officer. He received numerous advancements throughout his career as a result of his diligence, intelligence, commitment, and self-assurance.

More than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers were captured by the Indian Army after the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Sam developed an image of being kind to Prisoners after the war and would have intimate chats with them over a cup of tea. Additionally, he saw to it that they received good treatment and arranged for their families to send them gifts and copies of the Quran.

The most well-liked and respected Indian general, he never held back, and one can never forget his quote, “A ‘Yes man’ is a dangerous man. He is a menace. He will go very far. He can become a minister, a secretary, or a Field Marshall but he can never become a leader nor, ever be respected. He will be used by his superiors, disliked by his colleagues, and despised by his subordinates. So discard the ‘Yes man’.”

One of his most well-known quotes was made in response to a question about what may have happened if he had chosen Pakistan during the partition: “Then Pakistan would have won all the wars.”

Story Behind the Scenes

In April 1971 when refugees started pouring into India’s bordering states from East Pakistan because of West Pakistan’s offensive, the PM called for a cabinet meeting and also summoned Army Chief Manekshaw for it and asked –

Indira Gandhi: What are you doing about it?

Sam Manekshaw: Nothing, it’s got nothing to do with me. You didn’t consult me when you allowed the BSF, the CRP, and RAW to encourage the Pakistanis to revolt. Now that you are in trouble, you come to me. I have a long nose. I know what’s happening.

Indira Gandhi: I want you to enter Pakistan.

Sam Manekshaw: That means war!

Indira Gandhi: I do not mind if it is war.

Sam Manekshaw: God said let there be light and there was light. Now you say let there be war and there will be war. But are you prepared? I am certainly not. This is the end of April. The Himalayan passes are opening and there can be an attack from China.

Sam Manekshaw then went on to tell PM, Indira Gandhi

He would need all the road space and the entire railway network to move his men and in peak harvest season that meant that the produce wouldn’t be able to be transported and it would rot. He explained to her how the rains in East Pakistan would adversely affect the troop movement and that Air Force would not be able to provide support because of the weather.

Sam Manekshaw: My armoured division is supposed to have 189 tanks operational but only 11 are fit to fight.

And when the Finance Minister asked him why only 11 tanks were operational, the Army Chief had a quip for him too.

Sam Manekshaw: Because you are the Finance Minister. I have been asking you for money for over a year and you say you haven’t got it.

Sam Manekshaw: Now Prime Minister, give me your orders.

The grim Prime Minister with her teeth clenched replied –

Indira Gandhi: The Cabinet will meet again at four o’clock.

As the ministers started to leave the PM asked the Chief to stay back.

Sam Manekshaw: Resignation on grounds of health, mental or physical?

Indira Gandhi: Everything you told me is true.

Sam Manekshaw: Yes! It is my job to tell you the truth. And it is my job to fight, it is my job to fight to win and I have to tell you the truth.

Indira Gandhi: All right Sam, you know what I want?

Sam Manekshaw: Yes, I know what you want

7 months later on December 3, India went to war with Pakistan… on 16th December Pakistan Army surrendered, India won and Bangladesh gained its independence.

Also read: A Soldier Who Called Indira Gandhi ‘Sweety,’ Shocking Revelations About Sam Manekshaw On His Birth Anniversary