Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, also remembered as Sam Bahadur, was one of the greatest military leaders in Indian Army History. He was born in Amritsar, Punjab and spent the last years in Wellington, Tamil Nadu. His remarkable career spanned over four decades, during which he displayed courage, wit and spanned over four decades of his life. On his life, there is a Bollywood movie also made about which we are going to discuss in the blog.
In this blog, we are going to learn about Sam Manekshaw Biography: Life, Legacy, and Journey of India’s First Field Marshal.
Sam Manekshaw Biography
Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, who is also known as Sam Bahadur(the brave) was an Indian Army General and the first Indian Army Officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. He was born on April 3rd, 1914, in Amritsar, Punjab. Manekshaw, as a Field Marshal, played an important role as the Chief of the Army Staff during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Based on his life and achievements, there is also a Bollywood film made on him named “Sam Bahadur”.
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw |
| Nickname | Sam Bahadur |
| Birth Date | April 3, 1914 |
| Birth Place | Amritsar, Punjab, British India |
| Death Date | June 27, 2008 |
| Place of Death | Wellington, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
Sam Manekshaw Height And Physical Appearance
Here is a table showing Sam Maneskshaw’s height and physical appearance. Let’s have a look at it:
| Attribute | Details |
| Height | 5’9” (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lbs) |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Sam Manekshaw Religion
Sam was born into a Parsi Family. His parents, Hormizd and Hilla Manekshaw, were both Parsis. They had moved to Amritsar from the city of Valsad in Coastal Gujarat.
Sam Manekshaw Education
Sam completed his primary schooling in Amritsar, Punjab, where he was born too. Then, afterwards, he attended Sherwood College, Nainital. Sam was there for almost 8 years of his life and completed his high school there. He was always an intelligent kid, as he passed his senior high school with distinction. After that, he completed his graduation from Hindu Sabha College in Amritsar.
| Institution | Location | Years Attended | Course/Degree |
| Sherwood College | Nainital | Up to 1931 | High School |
| Hindu Sabha College | Amritsar | 1931–1932 | Science (third-class degree) |
Sam Manekshaw in the Military Training
In an act of rebellion against his father, who refused to let him go to London to pursue medicine, he applied for the newly established Indian Military Academy (IMA). He was one of the 15 cadets which was selected in the year 1932.
This initial group was very famously known as “The Pioneers” and also included some future commanders of the armies of Burma and Pakistan.
After his training at the IMA, Sam was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the BIA (British Indian Army) on February 4, 1934. He was initially assigned to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, which was stationed in Lahore, before being transferred to the 4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment. This is where he began his active career in the military.
In addition to his training, he attended the Staff Course at the Command and Staff College, Quetta in the year 1943. Then, later, he was also sent to London to attend a higher command course at the Imperial Defence College in 1957. This college helped him to prepare for senior leadership roles in the Indian Army.
Upon his return, he held various high-level positions, including General Officer Commanding of the 26th Infantry Division and Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, before eventually becoming the Chief of the Army Staff.
Sam Manekshaw Movie: Sam Bahadur
| Role/Function | Name(s) |
| Director | Meghna Gulzar |
| Producer | Ronnie Screwvala |
| Writers | Meghna Gulzar, Bhavani Iyer, Shantanu Srivastava |
| Sam Manekshaw | Vicky Kaushal |
| Indira Gandhi | Fatima Sana Shaikh |
| Silloo Manekshaw | Sanya Malhotra |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | Neeraj Kabi |
The film Sam Bahadur is a biographical drama that brings the story of his life on screen. Meghna Gulzar directed the movie, who is known for her sensitive approach to war dramas. The film chronologically showed over four decades of his life, starting from his early days as a cadet at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun.
In the film, Sam’s character was played by Vicky Kaushal, who is one of the amazing actors known for such kind of roles. And his wife, Silloo Manekshaw, was played by Sanya Malhotra.
Sam Manekshaw Wife- Silloo Manekshaw
Sam Manekshaw was married to Silloo Manekshaw. They got married on April 22nd, 1939. She was an alumnus of Elphinstone College and J.J. School of Arts in Bombay. She was known for her hobbies of painting and reading. They first met during a party in Lahore, where Sam charmed her. Together, the couple had two daughters, Sherry and Maya ( also known as Maja).
Silloo was known to be both a strong supporter and a grounding influence in Sam Manekshaw’s life. Beyond her role as a spouse, she was also involved in social welfare activities, notably establishing a charitable clinic in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, and raising funds through her art and directing plays. She passed away in 2001 at the age of 90 after battling lung cancer.
Major Events Of Sam Bahadur’s Military Life
Here are the major events of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw’s military life. Let’s have a look:
Early Military Career & World War II (1934-1945):
- 1934: He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the British Indian Army.
- 1942 ( Burma Campaign): He served as a captain in Burma against the Imperial Japanese Army. There he was severely wounded by machine-gun fire, but continued to lead his army.
Post-Independence & Rise Through Ranks (1947-1969)
- 1947-48 Indo-Pakistan War: At that time, he played a crucial staff role by advising on the military strategy. This led to the successful defence of Kashmir after it acceded to India.
- 1962 Sino-Indian War: Although he did not fight in the war, his honesty and outspokenness related to the military’s lack of preparedness and the political interference earned him both an enquiry and the rank of Lieutenant General.
The Defining Moment: 1971 Indo-Pakistan War
- Refusal to Go To War Prematurely: He stood up to the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and advised her not to take immediate military action. In fact, he requested that the Indian Army needed time to prepare for the war.
- Leadership and Strategy: Under Sam Bahadur’s command, the Indian Army launched a swift and decisive campaign in a joint operation with the Navy and the Air Force.
- Largest Surrender Since WWII: Under his guidance, the Indian Army took a decisive victory, which culminated in the public surrender of 93,000 or more Pakistani soldiers. This is the largest military surrender since World War II.
The Culmination Of His Career (1973)
- Promotion to Field Marshal: Seeing his exceptional leadership quality in the year 1971, Sam Bahadur was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on January 1st, 1973. He became the first Indian Army Officer to hold this five-star rank in the Indian Army.
- Retirement: He retired from active service on January 15, 1973, concluding a distinguished career spanning nearly four decades.
Sam Manekshaw Death
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw passed away on June 27th, 2008, at the age of 94. He died at the Military Hospital in Wellington, where he spent his last years. After battling for a long time due to illness, he died at his place. The long cause of his death was complications from Pneumonia and other respiratory problems.
For his funeral, the government of India accorded him a state funeral, complete with a 21-gun salute, a rare honour. He was laid to rest in the Parsi Zoroastrian Cemetery in Ooty, next to his wife, Silloo Manekshaw.
The legacy of “Sam Bahadur” continues to inspire generations of soldiers and citizens alike, particularly his pivotal role in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Sam Manekshaw Awards
Given below is the list of awards and their description in this table. Let’s have a look at it:
| Award / Honor | Description | Long Service Medal |
| Military Cross | Awarded for gallantry in Burma during WWII | 1942 |
| Padma Bhushan | India’s third-highest civilian award | 1968 |
| Padma Vibhushan | India’s second-highest civilian award | 1972 |
| Field Marshal Rank | First Indian Army officer promoted to Field Marshal | 1973 |
| Order of Tri Shakti Patta (Nepal) | Nepal’s order of knighthood | 1977 |
| General Service Medal | Indian military service medal | – |
| Poorvi Star | Campaign medal for the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War | – |
| Paschimi Star | Campaign medal for the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War | – |
| Raksha Medal | Indian military decoration | – |
| Sangram Medal | Award for service in specific conflicts | – |
| Sainya Seva Medal | Long service medal | – |
| Indian Independence Medal | Commemorative medal for India’s independence | – |
| 25th Anniversary Independence Medal | Commemorative medal | – |
| 20 Years Long Service Medal | For long military service | – |
| 9 Years Long Service Medal | For long military service | – |
| 1939-45 Star | WWII campaign medal | – |
| Burma Star | WWII campaign medal | – |
| War Medal 1939-1945 | WWII service medal | – |
| India Service Medal | WWII Indian service medal | – |
| General Service Medal 1918 | Awarded for general service | – |
Conclusion
Sam Manekshaw’s life was more than just a story of medals and military victories. Over the span of time in his Military career, which we already mentioned in the above part. He was the first ever army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. From surviving near-fatal injuries in World War II to leading one of the greatest military units, he had come a long way in his career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sam Manekshaw so famous?
Sam Manekshaw was the first Indian army officer to be appointed to the post of Field Marshall.
What religion was Sam Manekshaw?
Sam was a Parsi Man who followed the Zoroastrian faith.
How many bullets did Sam Manekshaw have?
Sam was hit by multiple bullets during the War of Sittang Bridge in Burma in the year 1942.
What was the relationship between Sam Bahadur and Indira Gandhi?
They both shared the relationship of trust, mutual respect and patriotism together.
What were Manekshaw’s famous quotes?
His favourite quote is “Give me a man or a woman with common sense and who is not an idiot, and I assure you can make a leader out of him or her.”
