Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: Remembered by a Signal Officer

I had some personal experiences with Field Marshal Manekshaw. At the meeting held on 18th June, I felt it was all too personal and may not be in good taste to make a personal relationship , public. My feelings were so great that ultimately , thought of good behaviour succumbed to sentiments.

I had the good fortune of meeting the Field Marshal , for the first time , in 1949 . He was then a Colonel . I was then a major in the Area HQ in Bombay. He was on a visit to Bombay and I had to receive him at the air port and escort him to the suite allotted to him in the mess. It was a long drive to Colaba. Those days , even Lt Cols were few, what to talk about a full colonel and that too one from Army HQ. I did not know how to start . He started off by saying, during office hours I am Col Manekshaw. Outside office hours, I am Sam. What about you he asked. I said I am Major Krishnamoorthy of Signals– still slightly nervous. I suppose your friends must be calling you krish. I said coyly, yes sir. Throughout the journey, which I think lasted almost an hour, he kept on talking to me with Krish, almost in every other sentence. May be he was trying to get my embarrassment out of me.

Years passed by. We were now in 1955– six years later. He had become a Brigadier by then and was commanding a Brigade in Ferozepore . I was still a major in the then E P area in Jullunder, sweating for my next rank. As ill luck would have it, I was asked by the G 1 of the Area to go on a recce and find suitable areas for an exercise, for the Ferozpur brigade. Courtesy demanded that I report to the BM and if he permitted, to drop in to pay my respects to the Bde Commander. Least did I realize that he was the same Manekshaw I had met in 1949. Come in krish , was the greeting I heard. A short meeting and 6 years ago. He is able to connect me with my pet name. I was overwhelmed – to be honest shocked. He said, I am glad that you have been selected to set a paper for my promotion examination. Do you remember that when you were doing your staff college in Wellington in1952-53, you asked your DS, Lt Col Jagjit Singh, for certain clarifications. You actually asked for the DS solution. I assure you I wont do that to you. We both laughed, had a quick cup of tea and parted .

Another 13 years passed. It was 1968. The Field Marshal, then a General was the Army chief. I had taken slightly premature retirement in the rank of Col. I won the allotment of an Indian Oil Petroleum Dealership, against another 299 applicants pitted against me, in an open competition. The system of routing allotment of dealership, through resettlement was not in vogue then. I wanted to be different. I thought why not I ask the Army chief to inaugurate the Petrol pump, as this was the first allotment for an ex-serviceman. Friends thought I wasfoolish. However, no one had the courage to openly discourage me. I called up the Chief's office and said that I wanted to speak to the Chief. The ADC, who took the details, asked me to wait. A few minutes later, I heard I happy voice. Is that you Krish, my old examiner. When would you like to come over. I got an appointment, to the disappointment of the ADC. I placed my request. First he was reluctant. However, I knew the language he liked. So I said Sir, this is the first time a retired officer has got a pump against odds. I want to dedicate this to my service brethren, who in due course of time will retire and may choose to take to this trade . I would like to make this a training centre for such aspirants and I want this to be started by you. Done was the reply. DONE. He did inaugurate it and I remained the darling of Indian oil for two decades.

Many years later, the bee of going through the ballot box bit me. I wrote to him, requesting him to give me his blessings and become the Patron–in -chief. Pat came the reply My blessings for the Commandant of The IOC training centre is there but one suggestion - make sure that there is a two bed cell in Tihar jail. As soon as the Madam Prime Minister hears about this, that is where both of us would be.

That is the GREAT MANEKSHAW I KNEW, I LOVED AND I HAVE LOST at the cruel hand of destiny. Now that the formation of a political Party is being thought of, I wish we could posthumously adopt him not as the patron-in chief but as the Patron Angel. If we have his blessings from heaven, no power on earth or even Heaven can stand between us and success.

Col MS Krishnamoorthy (Retd)