Posts
Let us forget for the moment the actions of spineless politicos and grasping bureaucrats, and merge ourselves in this story of a KARMAYOGI who will be a shining example for citizens of India ...
Saluting Sam Bahadur
30 Jun 2008, 1254 hrs IST, Tarun Vijay, (Abridged from the Times Of India)
Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was the name of the hero India saluted. He died at the age of 94 at Wellington early last Friday.
It's still unbelievable that a government formed by Indians would be so rude and indifferent to the greatest military leader India has produced post-independence, to use the words of former army chief General V.P. Malik. Rare are the heroes of a nation admired by commoners as their idol, inspiration and icon. Manekshaw was one such hero India always looked up to with pride and excitement. A government that decided to lower the national flag for three days as a mark of mourning when the Pope died didn't send its defence minister to attend the funeral of Field Marshall Manekshaw; nor did it allow the other two service chiefs to attend.
Manekshaw was the only living Field Marshal, was listed on the active list of army officers as number one and hence drew a full salary. He participated in action in the Second World War, in the 1947 war with Pakistan, the '62 war with China, and the Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. Manekshaw received the Military Cross, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. Above all, he provided hope when light was dimming and courage when disillusionment was setting in. He was utterly contemptuous of politicians and often spoke fearing no one. He was proven right about them. The Field Marshall became a legend.
A nation that can't honour its heroes can't produce them either. A Bharat Ratna can't be given to persons like Manekshaw. In fact till this date no soldier has been given the highest award though they won four wars for us. We hardly see a politician whose child is serving in the forces.
Sam Bahadur, as Gen. Manekshaw was affectionately known, had both, prestige and wealth, in abundance. The heavens would not have fallen if the President and Prime Minister had attended the last rites of our Field Marshall. The government failed but the nation rose to say: "Sam Bahadur Zindabad."
When Nehru's two protégés, V.K. Krishna Menon and Gen B.M. Kaul, failed the nation during the 1947 war (remember the infamous jeep scandal involving Menon?) and after the 1962 defeat at the hands of the Chinese, Maneksahw was called to take command of the eastern sector. His first order was: "No more withdrawals, march to the posts and recapture." This re-energised the demoralised troops but both Kaul and Menon tried their best to make life hell for the brave Manekshaw, though they couldn't succeed beyond a point. I was told by a senior military officer that they also instituted an inquiry against him for committing "anti-national activities"
Fighting on the Burma front against the Japanese in 1942, Manekshaw was almost pronounced dead when brought to Rangoon hospital with nine bullets in the lung, liver and kidneys. The military surgeon was reluctant to operate seeing the hopeless condition even though Sam was just about conscious. The surgeon asked what had happened to him. Sam replied: "Oh, a donkey kicked." The surgeon decided that if a soldier could have such a sense of humour at that critical hour, he must operate to save him. Sam survived and rose to become India's eighth army chief.
He led India to glory in 1971 when after many centuries our soldiers decisively defeated a foreign force and ensured its complete surrender. Able lieutenants always assist a leader, but the credit should always go to the commanding abilities of the captain. Sam had great colleagues in Lt. Gen. JFR Jacob and Lt. Gen J.S. Aurora. Yet it was his leadership that won the day for us.
Manekshaw was outspoken. He literally refused to take Indira Gandhi's orders and finally had the cabinet accept his timing on when to declare war. At the height of his popularity Indira Gandhi feared he might take over in a military coup, but he assured her that he didn't have such ambitions.
After retirement Manekshaw was denied the honours usually given to a Field Marshall. No assistant, no bungalow and staff car and no emoluments befitting his rank. Only last year when he was in military hospital, the old dues were restored and a cheque of Rs 1.6 crore presented to him covering all his past dues. But to what avail?
He was a true Parsi. The story goes that when the Parsis landed in India a thousand years ago driven out of their land, Iran, by Muslim rulers, they prayed for shelter in the Hindu kingdom of Jadu Rana in Gujarat. The king offered a jar of milk filled to the brim and the Parsis returned the jar after adding sugar to it indicating they would be part of the larger society as a contributing, sweetening factor and not as an alien segment demanding extra space. And they proved it too.
During the framing of the Constitution Parsis were offered special status as minorities but politely refused. They have contributed greatly to the national wealth, pride and valour. Dadabhai Naoroji, Jamshetji Tata, Madam Bhikaji Cama, Ardeshir Godrej, Homi Jehagir Bhabha and Nani Palkivala are among the best who have added to the glory of their adopted nation without ever asking for anything special in return. Manekshaw was one of the greatest gems among them, nay among us all.
Honouring Manekshaw doesn't mean he was an angel incarnate. But he was a man with a capital 'M'. He had weaknesses and an officer's arrogance. But who among us and among the "worshipped tall deities" comes without their share of such points.
Such acts alone enliven a civilisation and provide oxygen to grow. Every nation worth her name does that. The body of the lone officer to die in the Entebbe operation was received at the airport by the Israeli Prime Minister. The British monarchy and the democratic government take the greatest pride in honouring their soldiers and so do other nations who have a soul.
This government has also another dubious distinction of having been returned the bravery medals awarded posthumously to security personnel who died fighting the jihadis while protecting Parliament and the MPs sitting inside it. The medals were returned because the parents of these armymen were stunned to see the rulers protecting the attacker, Afzal Guru. They regarded this as an insult to their brave children who had laid down their lives fighting Afzal for the sake of the nation.
The author is the Director, Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.
30 Jun 2008, 1254 hrs IST, Tarun Vijay, (Abridged from the Times Of India)
Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was the name of the hero India saluted. He died at the age of 94 at Wellington early last Friday.
It's still unbelievable that a government formed by Indians would be so rude and indifferent to the greatest military leader India has produced post-independence, to use the words of former army chief General V.P. Malik. Rare are the heroes of a nation admired by commoners as their idol, inspiration and icon. Manekshaw was one such hero India always looked up to with pride and excitement. A government that decided to lower the national flag for three days as a mark of mourning when the Pope died didn't send its defence minister to attend the funeral of Field Marshall Manekshaw; nor did it allow the other two service chiefs to attend.Manekshaw was the only living Field Marshal, was listed on the active list of army officers as number one and hence drew a full salary. He participated in action in the Second World War, in the 1947 war with Pakistan, the '62 war with China, and the Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971. Manekshaw received the Military Cross, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. Above all, he provided hope when light was dimming and courage when disillusionment was setting in. He was utterly contemptuous of politicians and often spoke fearing no one. He was proven right about them. The Field Marshall became a legend.
A nation that can't honour its heroes can't produce them either. A Bharat Ratna can't be given to persons like Manekshaw. In fact till this date no soldier has been given the highest award though they won four wars for us. We hardly see a politician whose child is serving in the forces.
Sam Bahadur, as Gen. Manekshaw was affectionately known, had both, prestige and wealth, in abundance. The heavens would not have fallen if the President and Prime Minister had attended the last rites of our Field Marshall. The government failed but the nation rose to say: "Sam Bahadur Zindabad."
When Nehru's two protégés, V.K. Krishna Menon and Gen B.M. Kaul, failed the nation during the 1947 war (remember the infamous jeep scandal involving Menon?) and after the 1962 defeat at the hands of the Chinese, Maneksahw was called to take command of the eastern sector. His first order was: "No more withdrawals, march to the posts and recapture." This re-energised the demoralised troops but both Kaul and Menon tried their best to make life hell for the brave Manekshaw, though they couldn't succeed beyond a point. I was told by a senior military officer that they also instituted an inquiry against him for committing "anti-national activities"
Fighting on the Burma front against the Japanese in 1942, Manekshaw was almost pronounced dead when brought to Rangoon hospital with nine bullets in the lung, liver and kidneys. The military surgeon was reluctant to operate seeing the hopeless condition even though Sam was just about conscious. The surgeon asked what had happened to him. Sam replied: "Oh, a donkey kicked." The surgeon decided that if a soldier could have such a sense of humour at that critical hour, he must operate to save him. Sam survived and rose to become India's eighth army chief.
He led India to glory in 1971 when after many centuries our soldiers decisively defeated a foreign force and ensured its complete surrender. Able lieutenants always assist a leader, but the credit should always go to the commanding abilities of the captain. Sam had great colleagues in Lt. Gen. JFR Jacob and Lt. Gen J.S. Aurora. Yet it was his leadership that won the day for us.
Manekshaw was outspoken. He literally refused to take Indira Gandhi's orders and finally had the cabinet accept his timing on when to declare war. At the height of his popularity Indira Gandhi feared he might take over in a military coup, but he assured her that he didn't have such ambitions.
After retirement Manekshaw was denied the honours usually given to a Field Marshall. No assistant, no bungalow and staff car and no emoluments befitting his rank. Only last year when he was in military hospital, the old dues were restored and a cheque of Rs 1.6 crore presented to him covering all his past dues. But to what avail?
He was a true Parsi. The story goes that when the Parsis landed in India a thousand years ago driven out of their land, Iran, by Muslim rulers, they prayed for shelter in the Hindu kingdom of Jadu Rana in Gujarat. The king offered a jar of milk filled to the brim and the Parsis returned the jar after adding sugar to it indicating they would be part of the larger society as a contributing, sweetening factor and not as an alien segment demanding extra space. And they proved it too.
During the framing of the Constitution Parsis were offered special status as minorities but politely refused. They have contributed greatly to the national wealth, pride and valour. Dadabhai Naoroji, Jamshetji Tata, Madam Bhikaji Cama, Ardeshir Godrej, Homi Jehagir Bhabha and Nani Palkivala are among the best who have added to the glory of their adopted nation without ever asking for anything special in return. Manekshaw was one of the greatest gems among them, nay among us all.
Honouring Manekshaw doesn't mean he was an angel incarnate. But he was a man with a capital 'M'. He had weaknesses and an officer's arrogance. But who among us and among the "worshipped tall deities" comes without their share of such points.
Such acts alone enliven a civilisation and provide oxygen to grow. Every nation worth her name does that. The body of the lone officer to die in the Entebbe operation was received at the airport by the Israeli Prime Minister. The British monarchy and the democratic government take the greatest pride in honouring their soldiers and so do other nations who have a soul.
This government has also another dubious distinction of having been returned the bravery medals awarded posthumously to security personnel who died fighting the jihadis while protecting Parliament and the MPs sitting inside it. The medals were returned because the parents of these armymen were stunned to see the rulers protecting the attacker, Afzal Guru. They regarded this as an insult to their brave children who had laid down their lives fighting Afzal for the sake of the nation.
The author is the Director, Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.
-----------------------------
Please pass this on to your friends, colleagues, social groups / networks.
1 comment:
Enjoyed this post too.
Our nation is not only indifferent to its heroes, it is indifferent, period.
I think our national ethos has been eroded by blind economism. We no longer think as citizens, we think as consumers. Maybe this is true of other nations as well, but this is certainly true of "India Shining."
Warm Regards,
Krish
Post a Comment