Rarely have nations across the world produced such leaders as FM Manekshaw. I feel honored to be an Indian. I wish we as a nation could learn from his life and emulate it to live like a visionary that he was. Only then will we become a strong nation. Jai Hind!
I pay my heartfelt respects to the departed soul of Sam Bahadur. In his death India has lost one of its breavest soldiers. I had the extreme good fortune of meeting Sam Bhadur during his farewell from HQ Western Command in Shimla in 1964 on the eve of his departure for Calcutta as the GOC-in-C Eastern Command. I was literally floored when he gave me a very warm handshake. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Seeing our chief guest while driving in from the last bend of hodsons , showing him our best at tattoo , parading our colours for him & dipping the standard as a flag bearer in 1975 , showing our exhibits at the science labs during Founder's Celebration 1975 at Lawrence School , Sanawar was wittily summed up in his speech , declaration that an extra days holiday was given because the gallant ladies man that he was he was most impressed with the NCC Girls squad & tattoo by the girls so to make amends an extra holiday was granted over what had been allowed by the Headmaster Shomi Ranjan Das. On a more personal note he was concerned about the welfare of my mother a young service widow & offered to take our home known as teh dentists bungalow Khanjekhowa, Panitola , Assam as an officers mess to supplement th meagre pension granted in those days. I will always remember the gallant officer qualities with which his inspiration has till date led me & I continue to honour his inate gentlemanly qualities with which he inspired those whom he touched during various seasons of his life Prasant.N.Choudhury Advocate , Gauhati High Court
I remember during my teens, boys aspiring to join the army would often talk about Sam Manekshaw...later I got to read about him..an inspiring personality I must say..I was impressed by his witty and clever persona..the generations to come would surely remember him as one of the greatest soldiers to have existed on this earth...May his soul rest in peace..
