I clearly remember the day- 24th June 1999, I was walking towards the business lounge as my early morning flight was delayed to Delhi by abt half an hour, picking up the morning newspaper, I walked across the lounge noticing 2 gentlemen deeply engrossed in discussion. The older person probably in 80s upright, grey swept back hair, dressed impeccably in a blue blazer was being quizzed by a middle aged bald portly man "...and what did you tell Nehru....?" to which the tall old man could be heard replying ".....I told him....and I also told Indira Gandhi that her policies ......" I tried hard to catch their conversation which was out of earshot but could only hear broken sentences.
I tried hard to place this gentleman but couldn't do so. Well this continued for some time and the portly man left as his flt. was announced, a few minutes later it was my turn to leave for the security check when I with my strolley in tow crossed this seated tall gentleman when suddenly my memory struck me and I started moving towards this gentleman who was sipping black tea, I offered my hand to him, who by now seeing me had stood up and dwarfed my 5ft 11 frame as I said "am I speaking with Field Marshal Sam Manikshaw", locking my hand in a vice like grip, staring me with his light piercing eyes, his deep voice resonating "yes son you are" I felt myself go weak in my knees searching for words. He briefly introduced himself as currentl being on the board of directors on several Tata Gro
