The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Field Marshal Manekshaw had a magical vision’

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Sunday, Jul 06, 2008
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‘Field Marshal Manekshaw had a magical vision’

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Remembering an icon: Governor Rameshwar Thakur offering tributes to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in Bangalore on Saturday.

BANGALORE: Serving and retired soldiers turned up at the Army Service Corps Centre and College here on Saturday to pay homage to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw who passed away recently.

While the younger ones offered floral tributes to the icon, the retired narrated anecdotes.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur; Director-General and Inspector General of Police R. Sri Kumar; Home Secretary Vatsala Vatsa; Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Training Command, Indian Air Force, Air Marshal V.R. Iyer; and Commander, Karnataka and Kerala Sub-Area, Brigadier P.S. Ravindranath, were among those who attended the function.

Major General P.K. Chakraborti, Commandant, Services Selection Centre (South), Bangalore, put the function in perspective and said: “One thing that he has given to us is the legacy for Indian Army.” Recalling the three occasions he had met the Field Marshal, Maj. Gen Chakraborti said: “His smile is the one we should carry forward. He was the greatest communicator. He was interacting with soldiers, Junior Commissioned Officers, bureaucrats and the press.”

Field Marshal Manekshaw had a great sense of humour and turned even sad moments into those of joy, he added.

Brigadier M.D. Phadke (Retired), who served in the Gorkha Regiment, narrated instances that showed Field Marshal Manekshaw’s vision and personality.

“He had a magical vision,” Brigadier Phadke said, and recalled the visit of Field Marshal Manekshaw after the Indian troops had driven away the Chinese forces from Sikkim in 1967. “His speech was different … it enhanced our vision.”

Speaking about the way in which Field Marshal handled the troops, Lieutenant General N.S.I. Narahari, who was the Corps Commander where the Field Marshal was also commanding, said: “It was a pleasure to learn the way he dealt with fellow human beings. Full credit for our troop’s successes in 1971 India-Pakistan war should go to the way he handled strategic position. He delayed war to a suitable time and enable the troops to overpower the enemy,” he said.

Earlier, many defence personnel and children from the Military School paid tributes to the Field Marshal and also penned their feelings in the condolence book. An 18-minute documentary on the Field Marshal was screened.

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