Born as Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw on April 3, 1914, in Amritsar, he joined the British Indian Army in 1934
In the Battle for Sittang Bridge against the Japanese in Burma in 1942, he was shot nine times and received highest decorated ‘Military Cross’
He was instrumental in getting Maharaja Hari Singh to sign the Treaty of Accession within a matter of hours
In his first battle post-independence, he served under the Gorkha regiment and withstood around 10 million refugees poured across the border
A 40-year military career of Manekshaw saw five wars- World War II, 1948 Kashmir War, 1962 Indo-Sino war, 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars
Appointed Chief of the Army Staff in 1969, Manekshaw's emphasis on discipline and modernization fortified the Indian Army
The 1971 Indo-Pak War showcased strategic brilliance in using all three services and auxiliary support to Mukti Bahini for the liberation of Bangladesh through Operation Vijay
Manekshaw's leadership culminated in the largest surrender of forces after World War II, in just 13 days of war
Post-1971, he was promoted to the 1st field Marshal of India, the highest army post who never retires and serves in uniform until death
The man who was affectionately called ‘Sam Bahadur’ never actually served with Gorkha troops!