Soldiering On......................!

28th June 2008. It was 5:30 pm on a beautiful Saturday evening, just after a slight drizzle, overcast sky but no threats of rain, ideal climate to roam around with your friends n special some ones. I drove in a hurry to reach BMCC on time. As I walked towards the Library building I just casually looked at the serene campus. The campus was peaceful as usual, a few sportsmen plying their respective trades in the outfield, a few students whiling away their time in the Canteen & a few others just strolling along aimlessly. Having glanced at them I felt like I just passed out of the place yesterday & not 10 years as the certificate indicates. As the Library building approached something struck me. Was it astonishment? Perhaps yes. As I saw in disbelief a crowd of about 80 odd students out there in the middle of a court yard. What struck me more was the fact that this young crowd had gathered for some purpose. What was it? It was an enlarged poster. On the poster was a photo of an Army officer having his baton in his hand, he was fairly old but was still as attractive as he must have been in his youth! Who was he? He was India’s 1st ‘Five Star’ ranked officer, the first ‘Field Marshal’ SHFJ Manekshaw. Our beloved ‘Sam Bahadur’! All of us had assembled there to pay homage to the great soldier nay the Legend!

Whatever I have known about him is through press only although I have partially read his book “Soldiering On” which is quite fascinating to say the least. That he was an upright officer who held on to his principles goes without saying. But what was more intriguing is his courage of conviction. Moral courage as he defined was – “The ability to distinguish right from wrong and having so distinguished it , be prepared to say so, irrespective of the views held by your superiors or subordinates and of consequence to yourself.” And it showed. It was evident when he ran into trouble with the then Home Minister Mr. Krishna Menon just before the 1962 war with China. That the minister had to eat his words & bring back Sam to the front was a testimony to Sam’s standing in the military higher echelons. In 1971 when the war was imminent he had the guts to tell the then all powerful PM Ms. Indira Gandhi – “you mind your own business, I’ll mind my own”. What guts man! The enormity of his forthrightness is incredible!

He, having always led from the front, the Military Cross that he won in Burma was proof enough, commanded respect of his subordinates, peers and superiors alike. His courteous treatment of all, his men included, perhaps was the most significant reason why he was admired by all and he had unflinching support from the rank and file of the Army. His astuteness in tactics and his calm, calculated execution of the same came to the fore during the 1971 war. But above all, his poise, his ability to mind his own business when he could have gone on to be a dictator puts him among the rarest & the best of the leaders of India. The unselfish leader didn't relinquish but he just wasn't interested in the bigotry of politics. It was one of the reasons why he didn't accept any ceremonial posts by the Government & was quite content in advising many a corporate instead, who were all ears to the old man’s experience in handling the logistics, man-management skills and to give it a management lingo….management by objectives!

It is indeed ironical that the very class of people (read politicians) whom he held in contempt didn't bother to turn up for the funeral of this great soldier. He was no longer of any use to them so they didn't find it appropriate to spend their precious time on paying homage to India’s finest Army man. Sometimes, if not always, we know the character of people on their spontaneous reaction. Where the top politicians of country had failed the test, an unassuming crowd of youngsters had won hands down. And that is why I was overwhelmed when I saw a crowd of young collegians gathered over there at a short notice. It was not compulsory, there were not many who were NCC cadets but it was the spur of the moment, the sense of occasion that had brought them there. I feel it’s not what you are obligated to do but what you do on your own, going out of your way that matters. The bubbling energy, the overflowing enthusiasm was uncharacteristically restrained as we mourned for one of the bravest officers & one of the finest gentlemen whom the nation will always look up to. And as we lit candles & put a flower each in front of Sam’s photograph I felt proud to be part of that spontaneous gathering!

Long Live “Apro Sam”!!!