Sam Manekshaw's leadership had substance over style: Army Commander

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 19

Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw crafted and practiced a unique brand of military leadership based upon original application of mind, self-belief and a pragmatic approach, said Lt Gen Raj Shukla, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command.

Carried along all three services

Sam Manekshaw was a de facto CDS during the war because of his ability to carry along the three services as well as the bureaucracy. — Lt Gen Raj Shukla, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command

Speaking at the Military Literature Festival today, General Shukla said the iconic military leader that led India to victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war was a great leader with a ready wit, had a strong sense of self-esteem, deep conviction and great impatience with red tape.

Giving an insight into the personalities of key commanders at the helm of affairs at that time, Gen Shukla said Sam was a de facto CDS during the war because of his ability to carry along the three services as well as the bureaucracy.

Speaking about Lt Gen Sagat Singh, who was the GOC 4 Corps in the Eastern Sector during the war, Gen Shukla said he was a combat legend who had won each time he had fought, be it in Goa, Mizoram and finally in Bangladesh.

“He was an unyielding commander who was willing to fight a war uncompromisingly. He understood early in his career that the only rule in war is to win. In the Indian context, he was unmatched and internationally, he compared favourably with those best in the business,” Gen Shukla said.

Sam Manekshaw and Sagat Singh, despite being diverse personalities, complemented each other during the conduct of the war and enabled the country to achieve its objectives successfully, he said.

Earlier, SS Boparai, an IPS officer who was posted in Fazilka, shared his experiences of tackling smuggling, black marketing and overpricing of goods as well as cooperating with the military authorities on various matters.

Maj Gen Pushpendra Singh spoke about the induction of new heavy mortars in the artillery just before the commencement of the war and how these were issued and operationalised in a very short time, amazing the Israeli experts who had come to assist the Army.