The one and only Sam Bahadur

Brig Prabir Goswami (Retd)

Many of us who were in uniform when he was the Army Chief, and even after his retirement, had the occasion to be touched and influenced by the irrepressible Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, one of India’s most loved and admired soldiers.

Having just taken over as the Army Chief, General Manekshaw came as the Reviewing Officer for our Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, on June 15, 1969. It was a huge honour that the Chief himself would take the salute as we got commissioned as Second Lieutenants.

Just two months later, he visited our armoured regiment at Ahmednagar. It was a new unit being raised with soldiers brought in from Artillery, Engineers and the Infantry, and from different castes like Marathas, Ahirs and Gujjars. This mixed bag was a first-time experiment for the Armoured Corps. Sam had just introduced name tabs for officers and we were all wearing these as we lined up for introductions.

As he came to me at the end of the line, my Commandant told him that I had just joined the unit from IMA. He turned a stern face and asked, “Who commissioned you?” I told him, “Sir, the Chief.” Sam took a step forward and with a grin dealt a solid blow to my chest and said, “Even I make mistakes, don’t I?” I staggered four steps back and could only grin back. The name tab had snapped into two!

Sam then walked around the garages where the men were busy maintaining the Vijayanta tanks — grease, oil, cleaning material, etc. Troops wearing soiled dungarees, dirty hands, some under the tanks. Not all spit and polish as would be the norm when a Chief visits. Sam walked up to one jawan and smiled, “Kahan se aya hai?” The jawan replied, “Infantry se, Saab.” “Main bhi Infantry ka hoon, haat milao.” He warmly shook hands. This got repeated a dozen or more times during his walk through the garages.

His own hands were now soiled with grease and sweat but he did not look at them. When he was past the tanks, he accepted the cloth which the Risaldar Major had been carrying for him to wipe his hands on and told the Commandant, “Boy, you got a fine unit here!” He left behind a regiment whose troops’ morale had soared sky high.

In later years, I had the opportunity to be addressed by Sam on several occasions and each time would admire his presence and charisma. He did not build it — he was just made that way. People around him felt good and he made sure that his public image inspired confidence.

Just before the 1971 war, Sam visited all forward operational areas and spoke to the men and the officers in large and small groups, depending on the availability and deployment of troops. When he addressed the group I was in, near Muktsar, he spoke of many things. One of these I remember: “I will be sending you into Pakistan. When you do go, keep both your hands in your pockets. I have been around the world and assure you that Indian women are the best. So, keep those hands in your pockets and think of Sam, till you get back.”

I doubt that we will have a Chief of his stature again. He truly was a colossus. God rest his soul in peace.