A friend of mine who is in the Indian Army has met many popular personalities and has collected their autographs over the years including field Marshall Manekshaw. You can view them all in his slide show gallery. You'll be blown away by his collection.
I met Sam on a flight from Mumbai to Coimbatore twice in the year 2002 and 2003. In both cases I had the privilage of sitting next to him on the Jet Airways Premium class. A very polished & humble person, spoke very easily and full of humour. At the Coimbatore airport he had his official car waiting and he even offered to drop me to my hotel enroute to Conoor.Excellent human being!
In feb 97 or 98, I was travelling from bombay to coimbatore, since all economy class tickets were sold out i shelled a hefty sum for a business class seat. I plunked into the plush seat and reclined, just then a tall regal gentleman with a big white mustache joined me in the two aside seat. I wondered who he was, guessing that he was a tata scion, since he looked like a parsi.Throughout the 2 hour journey my gaze was drawn to him as if he were a magnet. He did however return my smile. It remains one of the biggest disappointments in my life that i did not start a conversation with this person. However i got down in coimbatore and went home to kotagiri. The following week i was travelling to coonoor and near vandisolai i saw the same gentle man walking 2 labradors with his gurkha.Then i realised that it was the field marshal. sir, i salute you your services to india are as important as gandhiji and sardar.
I met him as one of the graduating class of Diploma in Business Adminstration at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. He awarded the diplomas. His address to the students was sprikled with humor, candid observations about the state of the country and the society (1979). That was one of the rare occasions when I regretted having failed the medical exam for admission to the NDA. Field Marshal Maneckshaw's was an unforgettable personality and in those days the recollections of the decisive defeat of Pakistan in 1971 was still fresh in public memory. It lent an aura of greatness to his naturally awsome personality. One of the things he said was that, probably because of the immense popularity he had gained, Mrs. Gandhi asked him if he was thinking of taking over the government, and he told her not to worry, so long as she did her job, he would continue to do his. He was most critical of politicians in general and asked the fresh gradutes not to emulate them. He said that soldiers, on reentering civilian life were shocked and unhappy. If he met a retired jawan and asked him if all was well, the answer was "Nahin Saab, hum khush nahin hain!" He expressed great concern over declining moral standards and particularly the perfidy of the politicians. Unfortunately, he has left of Ariana vaijo and the conditions here are even worse than the ones he was commenting on in 1979 while addressing our class.
Met him at canteen in Wellington(Nilgiris)in 1999.He complimented me for looking like a college girl instead of an army officer's wife.4 months later he saw me at a party and recognized me.Amazingly sharp memory for a 80 man.RIP Charismatic,Chivalrous Soldier.JAI HIND.Shubhra Bajpai
My husband was attending Defence services Staff College in Wellington(Nilgiris). This dashing officer walked upto me in the canteen one day and asked for my intro.Four months later I came across him in a party to my amazement he recognized me.What a sharp memory at 80 .Charismatic,Chivalrous soldier-RIP-JAI HIND
Yes, indeed I did get a chance to meet this great person, The Great Field Marshall - SAM MANEKSHAW I am not sure about the exact year, but it could be 1972 most probably; I was then a student of Avabai Framji Petit Girls High School, Bandra. We were celebrating our Annual Sports Day and he was our Chief Guest, handsome, twinkling eyes, sitting straight, and the best thing about him was that he was not one bit bored about watching the whole Annual Sports Day of a girls’ school.
I still am not ashamed of not winning that 400 m race, because every time, I passed Sir Sam, I gawked at him in admiration, and it was in the last round that he frowned at me almost admonishing, as he had realized I was deliberately slowing down at that point where he was seated.
I am still thankful to my principal Mrs. Bharucha, who had invited this great man and given me a chance to cherish forever.
My salutations to this great man Amar Rahe Sir Sam Manekshaw
Big Salute to you sir. You will live in our hearts forever. The Central Government is being respresented by the Minister for State for Defence for the funeral!!...for a man of the calibre of Sam Manekshaw, no one less than the President and PM shuould attend.This shows how hollow our government is...
RE:SHAME ON CENTRAL GOVT !!!
by Sun on Jun 28, 2008 09:25 AM Permalink
Fully agree with you.The political A holes have better jobs like having meetings with other political morons to attend.
I had met the great leader in 1988-89, when i was Studying 9th std in Stanes Higher Secondary School. It was my day of pride when i as a part of the NCC Airwing of my school and gave him a Guard of honour. His speech was remarkable and it had inspired me to join the armed forces. His magnificient personality and warmth was a great attraction to all the students of our school. My Salute to one of India's Greatest Military leader and a true soldier. May his soul rest in peace. Jai Hind!! G Krishna Kumar
Sam was the chief guest of the 125th anniversary of Stanes Higher Secondary School,Coimbatore where I was a Commerce and Accounting teacher.His words are still afresh as how he became the field marshal and his hard work...it was a message still lingering...today I am Director of a management school imparting higher levels of management education in Pune and his words are a source of tremendous motivation in each assignment of mine Salutes to u Sam God bless Prof.S.Ranganathan
RE:RE:yes.i have met him
by krishna kumar on Jun 27, 2008 05:10 PM Permalink
dear sir, are u the same Ranga sir who was teaching commerce in Stanes Higher Secondary School. I am G Krishna kumar, ur student and u had taught us english. presently i am in the Armed forces. nice to cross u after such a long. take care sir, bye with luv, krish
