A soldier’s General, Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw crafted India’s greatest military victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war that created just not history, but also a new nation. Affectionately called “Sam Bahadur”, Manekshaw, 94, was the architect of many a military triumph, but his finest hour came when Pakistani forces were vanquished in 14 days flat. And Bangladesh was born.

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.”

Read the tribute to one of India’s greatest soldier here.

Above pictures from Wikipedia & Bharat Rakshak

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