Bharat Ratna for Sam

The birth centenary of Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, who successfully led Indian troops in the battle for Bangladesh, serves as an occasion to honor the life of this great soldier. It is high time that the powers that be wake up from their slumber and honor this popular, talented professional who led the Indian Army to victory. If we do not do this for our true heroes we shall have failed in our duties in motivating future generations to further glory.

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: a true hero

The Government of India should posthumously confer on the greatest soldier of our times nothing less than the Bharat Ratna.
The official criterion is that the Bharat Ratna is conferred "for the highest degree of national service” which includes artistic, literary, and scientific achievements, as well as "recognition of public service of the highest order.” Manekshaw has performed service of the highest order resulting in every Indian proudly holding his head high. If rules have to be amended to include Army, Navy and Air Force service personnel, then so be it. It will not be the first time that rules have been changed to accommodate certain persons or groups.
The original rules did not permit the Bharat Ratna to be awarded posthumously. However, this was revised in January 1966 and there have been 12 instances to date where the award has been presented posthumously. The only basis for not awarding the Bharat Ratna to persons like Mahatma Gandhi and Sam Manekshaw (although both were on the opposite ends of the spectrum) would be that there would be no political gain to anyone concerned, thus sadly sidelining such deserving persons.
Manekshaw’s conduct throughout his career had been exemplary, even during trying times with certain politicians. His flamboyance and sartorial elegance never escaped notice and blended brilliantly with his style of command. Replacing Lt Gen B. M. Kaul after the Himalayan debacle in 1962 and on reaching 4 Corps, Manekshaw announced: "Gentlemen, I have arrived. There will be no more withdrawals.”
Management manuals are now discovering many of the attributes of leadership that came naturally to Manekshaw. He had a healthy contempt for bureaucratic authority and detested fawning officers. After his retirement, 14 companies took him on their board of directors, mostly as chairman.
A petition to award Manekshaw the Bharat Ratna may be signed online at the following link: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-prime-minister-of-india-confer-the-bharat-ratna-to-field-marshal-sam-h-f-j-maneckshaw
[Part of the above is from an email received by me through friends and supposedly originally written by a veteran sapper (military engineer) Boman E. Amaria.] ROHINTON RANJI
r_ranji@msn.com