“With courage, honor and grace”

Parsis everywhere recalled their last surviving hero, the many-splendored one they loved and lost — aapro Sam. At the condolence meeting held by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) on July 17, 2008 BPP chairman and management expert Minoo Shroff spoke of Field Marshal (FM) Sam Manek­shaw’s corporate avatar, the directorships and chairmanships he took on after retirement in the private sector because the government found him too hot to handle. Though law or accounting were equally alien to this leader of men, "his quick grasp of situations, his wit, his sense of authority and his unfailing charm — he could charm a bird off a tree! — enabled him to face rowdy annual general meetings with equanimity,” said Shroff.

While Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, high priest of the Iranshah, referred to Manekshaw’s commitment to duty, social activist and honorary secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society, Maharashtra chapter, Homai Modi recalled the "infectious smile and twinkling eyes, the man with sparkle who treated his own and enemy soldiers with equal dignity.” Kersi Shethna, president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat wondered at Manekshaw’s "rare ability to strike instant rapport” with whoever came in contact with him.

Sam Manekshaw, an icon and a legend

There were messages read out from Pratibha Patil, President of India, who spoke of his "critical role at crucial moments in India’s history” and from president of the Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi who alluded to his "quicksilver wit and the life he lived with courage, honor and grace.”

Also paying tribute on the occasion was Maj Gen Hooda of Southern Command to whom the FM was the Army’s icon, one who had "fought in all the wars India fought after Independence plus the Burma campaign during World War II and who even succeeded in dealing with the Naxalites in Naga­land.” He recalled the FM’s leadership talks to higher army commanders — their amazing ease, precision and anecdotal interest.

For Maj Gen (Retd) Eustace D’Souza, "this giant of a man, seven years my senior in age, 10 years senior in service,” came into focus as he studied the Burmese campaign as part of military history. D’Souza said he had personally seen Manekshaw walk to the dividing fence between the armies in Nathu La — the Himalayan mountain pass linking India and Tibet through Sikkim. "He saw my western music equipment and sent me Marion Anderson’s Negro spirituals. For the young officers he sent girlie magazines!” D’Souza described the former General as "always immaculately turned out. There was never any 5 o’clock shadow on him.” He noted that as in the case of the other stalwart army men who had stood up to the establishment — Generals Cariappa and Thimmayya — no high government representatives attended their funerals. According to D’Souza there is talk of a statue of Manekshaw being erected either in Delhi or in Wellington, Tamil Nadu.

Brig Faridoon Mehta (Retd), Manekshaw’s first cousin, recalled family get-togethers in Amritsar over Christmas every year. "We were still at World War II stage (when the Chinese invaded Arunachal Pradesh), the army did not even have proper clothing: they were sent in plains clothes.” He regretted the government’s cavalier attitude towards Manekshaw: "He did not get the accoutrements of a field marshal. For 30 years he did not get his pay. Eventually he got Rs 1.6 crores thanks to President Kalam!”

Manekshaw’s Madras based daughter Sherry Batliwalla was unable to attend the meet but sent a message that read in part, "You mourn him for his achievements…We, the family, mourn because we have lost the most funny, caring father and grandfather, flamboyant and prone to flattery. He loved to be aapro Parsi. He would have been thrilled (with the outpouring of community affection).”

The FM’s grandson Jehan Daruwala, who was born after Manekshaw had retired from active service, spoke of life with the great man, not as a public figure but as head of the family: "You could share the deepest, darkest secrets about your love life, only to find the next day that everyone knew and you were mercilessly ribbed!” Manekshaw was prone to compliment every lady he met — often quite extravagantly. When Daruwala quizzed him about it he was told, "It cost me nothing, but it made her day!” Daruwala had worked with Jessica Gupta on the CD on Manekshaw’s life commissioned by PARZOR, the Delhi based NGO which is engaged in documenting Parsi history and culture at the bidding of UNESCO. While researching for it Daruwala said they came across "amazing stories of people promoted in the army because they had the courage to stand up to him!...He was just doing his job and doing it well, whether as soldier, corporate leader or grandfather. The politicians didn’t matter …He thought of himself as very lucky and used to say, ‘The harder I worked, the luckier I got.’ Sam was a consummate family man. He would always drop in on family members…He could be angry, but at the end of the day there was love.”

In London the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE) combined a remembrance of Manekshaw with a reception to visiting Air Marshal Fali Major of the Indian Air Force on July 12, 2008. Tributes were paid by ZTFE president Paurushasp Jila recalling the exceptional courage in the face of enemy fire in Burma that won Manekshaw the Military Cross.

Former ZTFE trustee and counsel emeritus Noshir Avari gave an account of his personal meeting with the FM. Avari has a property in the FM’s home town Coonoor in southern India. Avari spoke of the warm, caring and witty personality FM was. The speeches were followed by a screening of the PARZOR film on Manekshaw. Arnavaz S. Mama

Bombay Parsi Punchayet’s memorial meet for Manekshaw

The Bangalore Parsee Zoroastrian Anjuman held a meeting on the evening of July 5, 2008 at The Lady Jehangir Kothari Memorial Hall, Dinshaw Cawasji, president of the Anjuman informed Parsiana in a write-up. An uthamna ceremony for the departed soul had been held earlier at the Bai Dhunmai and Cawasji Dadabhai Dar-e-Meher and attended by a large number of coreli­gionists.

At the condolence meeting Cawasji briefly recounted the achievements of Sam Bahadur and then called upon Dastur Nadirshah P. Unvalla to lead the congregation in prayer in homage to the great man. Later, Unvalla briefly narrated an incident based on his own interaction with the FM. On completion of his new house in Coonoor, Nilgiris, Manekshaw had requested Unvalla to perform the jashan ceremony. Unvalla agreed, but made it clear that non-Parsi guests would have to arrive for the inauguration only after the jashan was over. Manekshaw readily agreed. Unvalla said: "When the rules and customs of our religion were concerned, he had no mental reservations and promptly abided by the laws.”

Wing Cdr (Retd) Dr Merzi Marker provided a presentation he had compiled on the late soldier which was received extremely well by the large number of Parsis present. Chronologically and through pictures Marker set out the sequence of events in Manekshaw’s illustrious career, his rapport with his jawans and his riposte with the powers-that-be in the central government. The march Sam Bahadur, composed in honor of him was also played. Several other retired officers of the defence services were given an opportunity to speak, including Air Marshal (Retd) Sarosh Dastur, Air Marshal (Retd) Minoo Dotiwalla, Air Vice Marshal Ramyar Bhada and Lt Col (Retd) Farrokh Mistry who recalled that on one occasion when some officers were being presented to Manekshaw he immediately recognized a fellow Zoroastrian and greeted Mistry jocularly as a "Bloody Bawa!” When they next met Manekshaw remembered him and once again addressed Mistry as "Bloody Bawa!”

Portraying a specific aspect of the FM’s life from a civilian’s perspective, past president of the Anjuman Phiroze Bharda stated that Manekshaw demonstrated total contempt for people’s obsession with power or status. He achieved dizzy heights purely on merit, keeping strictly away from the corridors of power. His battle skills and leadership qualities were enough for the nation to rally round him in its hour of need. Shereyar D. Vakil, compere for the evening, read out a message received from Air Marshal Tester Master in which the latter mentioned that it is very difficult for an individual to become a legend in his own lifetime, as Manekshaw had become.

Finally, Vakil read out to those present the resolution passed by Bangalore’s Parsi community condoling the death of the FM.

Roda Dara Hakim of Baroda, in an e-mail sent to Parsiana, conveyed details of the condolence meeting held by the Vadodara Parsi Panchayat on July 6, 2008. Before the humbandagi led by the priests, Jal Patel, president of the Panchayat placed a wreath near the portrait of the FM. In his tribute Patel said Manekshaw’s "deeds of valor are innumerable and have been told very often” and went on to recount a story about Manekshaw refusing to use a bullet proof car while visiting his troops in Kashmir saying: "If I traveled in such a car what would my soldiers think of me?”

A number of army officers spoke at the meeting, including Gen Harkirat Singh, commandant of the EME (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) in Baroda. Col Anil Pradhan stated that in an army court-martial the chances of being vindicated are as low as one in 10, but the honest Manekshaw emerged unscathed after being wrongly implicated in some trumped up charge because of a vindictive defence minister, Krishna Menon. Col Fateh Singh remembered Manekshaw’s smile which conveyed exactly what he wished to the person concerned. Both Pradhan and Singh expressed their hurt at the callous, uncaring and undignified manner in which the FM’s funeral was treated. They said, "No excuse is good enough for the chiefs of the armed forces and the bigwigs of the government not to pay their last salute to a man of the Field Marshal’s stature… It was a shame on the nation to have treated a man who died with his boots on as a Field Marshal never retires.” Col Adi Chinoy told some witty tales about the great man. He recalled that Jagjivan Ram, the defence minister, could never pronounce Sam’s name and invariably called him "Shyam,” much to his chagrin!

Many other speakers, including Baman Cama, Veena Mistry and Dr Phiroz Wadia offered their shraddhanjali (last respects) to the departed distinguished soldier, as per Hakim’s e-mail.

Trustees of the Thana Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman (TPZA) and the Thane Agiary Fund jointly organized a condolence meeting for Manekshaw on July 20, 2008. Pervez B. Bhesania, Kurus Shroff, Zarsis D. Udhnawala, Firdosh Kotwal, trustees of these two trusts, as well as eminent cricket umpire Piloo Reporter and other citizens shared memories of the great soldier. Two minutes’ silence was observed at the meeting with a prayer to the Almighty to bestow garothman behest (eternal peace) to the departed soul. The meeting was followed by a jashan at the Patell Agiary, as per an e-mail received from Udhnawala, president of the TPZA.

Gulbanoo Y. Chenoy, president of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman of Secunderabad and Hyderabad addressed a letter to the President of India dated June 30, 2008, a copy of which was forwarded to Parsiana by Jehangir Bisney via e-mail. Writing about the FM’s bravery, charisma and contribution to the nation, Chenoy contended that though he had been honored with the Military Cross on the battlefield during World War II, the Padma Bhushan in 1968, the Padma Vibhushan in 1972 and finally with the five star rank of Field Marshal on January 1, 1973, he did not receive the highest civilian award during his lifetime.

"For the invaluable service given to the nation by this great soldier… Manekshaw richly deserves the honor to be bestowed with the highest award of a Bharat Ratna (posthumous). The Parsi/Irani Zoroastrian community of the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad humbly requests your Excellency for considering (him) for the highest civilian award… for which act the community would always be thankful.”

Jashan and condolence meet organized by Thana Parsi Zoroastrian Anjuman and Thana Agiary Fund

In the July 16-31 issue of Sainik Samachar sent to Parsiana by Brig (Retd) Adi Sahukar of Poona, Natasha S. D’Souza, PRO Defence, Bangalore movingly describes the last journey of Sam Bahadur. She had rushed to Wellington immediately after hearing about the deteriorating health of the FM on June 26, a few hours before he breathed his last and remained there to help organize the state funeral.

"It was a moving sight. The never-ending stream of humanity was testimony to the popularity and respect for the man who was the architect of the victory of India in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The two hours set aside for the public (from Wellington, Coonoor and Ooty) stretched to five hours… Outside the barracks all shop owners had downed their shutters spontaneously as a mark of respect… That day business could be kept on hold… It was almost as if time stood still in the Nilgiris… Onlookers could be seen clicking photos of the cortege… People were…standing to attention, some with folded hands and still some others with a salute to the man who had etched a place for himself in the hearts of every Indian,” D’Souza wrote.

In the same issue of Sainik Samachar Col (Dr) B. N. B. M. Prasad, senior advisor, Medicine and Respiratory Medicine at Research and Referral Hospital, Delhi Cantonment, who had supervised the FM’s treatment for the last five years recalled that those who attended to Manekshaw in the hospital gave him the best possible care because he reciprocated "with unconditional love (and) gratitude. He was a father figure who… loved us like his own children… Neither age nor the disease could blunt his razor sharp intellect or his zest for life till the very end… He was always young (at) heart and kept himself updated on national and international affairs… even when he was sick and confined to bed.”

In Shillong at the 58 Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) a park has been dedicated to Manekshaw. As 21-year-old rifleman Vishnu Bahadur Thapa pauses to look at Manekshaw’s portrait perched atop a memorial tablet, he muses, "Park ko dekh kar garv hota hai. Mera bhi ek sapna hai Manekshaw saab jaisa soldier banne ka (I feel proud after looking at the park. I also dream of becoming a soldier like Manekshaw),” reports The Indian Express (IE) of September 8, 2008.

The park is an addition to the only Sam Manekshaw Museum in the country built in 1980 in the sprawling GTC complex. The Museum is not only a storehouse of Manekshaw’s memorabilia but also a commentary on the history of the Indian Army. "After he passed away, 61 items related to him were sent from the Saab’s house to the Museum,” Subedar Dil Bahadur Thapa, its caretaker, informed IE. Unlike the park which is open to the public, the Museum is open only to soldiers and has items ranging from Manekshaw’s intermediate examination certificate to his uniform. "Manekshaw is our icon and legend… His life will certainly stir the aspirations of the young soldiers,” Brig A. K. Pradhan, commandant of 58 GTC told IE.

In a fitting gesture, the Royal Western India Turf Club slated a special race in memory of the FM, reported Mid Day on September 7, 2008. The Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Memorial Trophy was inaugurated in Poona on September 8, at the running of the grade 3 Southern Command Gold Trophy, the traditional race named after the army unit with its headquarters in Poona.

Sherene Vakil