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BOOK REVIEW
FD MARSHAL SAM MANEKSHAW; SOLDIERING WITH DIGNITY BY SHELLEY K DAS

1. This book has been advertised as the approved/official biography of

th Marshal. It has been written by Lt Gen (Retd) Dipender Singh who was
from 1969-73.

2. An interesting fact about the book is that it’s draft was sent by the au
the Fd Marshal in 1975 & it was in 1996 that it was returned by the Fd
Marsha author to publish it.

3. In my personal opinion, the title of the book does not augur well w
content. A more apt title would have been ‘My Years with the Fd Mars
anything better, to that effect. This opinion arises from the fact that the book
pr brings to life, the legend’s yrs as the COAS rather than being a biography
of life – personal or professional.

AUTHOR

5. Speaking of the author, his claim to fame is his earlier book ‘IPKF
Lanka’ which he wrote with his experience as its Overall Force Cdr. He ha
honoured the Shiromani Award & Lokshree Award by the Indian go
commanded the Southern Army before his retirement. He belongs to t
Marshal’s regiment – 8th GR.

GENRE

6. The book easily comes over as a personal memoir which focuses

association the author had with the Fd Marshal.
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CONTENT

Prologue

8. The book begins with a prologue where Fd Marshal SHFJ

Manekshaw over the baton of COAS to Gen Bewoor, PVSM & Army HQ
bids farewell outgoing chief.

Introduction

9. Next comes the introductory note where the author seeks forgiveness
occasional eulogies of the Fd Marshal. The author hopes that, from his i
account of the Fd Marshal during his most tumultuous yrs, a true picture of th
may emerge who otherwise, had a fair degree of criticisms & contro
associated with him.

The Early Years

10. The first chapter –‘The Early years’ has the life of the Fd Marshal fr
time of his birth till his taking over as COAS condensed into 17 pages
highlights of this chapter are :-

(a) How a parsi family on its way to Lahore got to settle in Amritsar.

(b) His commissioning into 54 SIKH, presently in Pak Army where

ACR pen picture read, ‘This offr, i beg his pardon, this man, may o
become an officer’.

(c) His being conferred the MC in a Burmese jungle with 7 bullets per
his stomach.

(d) His tenure as GSO-1 & Director of Mil Ops in AHQ by virtue
o he never got an opportunity to comd a bn.

(e) His posting as Comdt DSSC where a C of I was convened agai

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Move to Delhi

10. The next Chapter - Move to Delhi deals with the incidents in the run u
being chosen as the Army Chief. The author brings out in detail h
acquaintance with the Fd Marshal started & how it culminated in his being
cho his MA.

MA to the Army Chief 

11. The third chapter – ‘MA to the Army Chief’ can be best described as
a to the Working of Chief’s Secretariat ‘. The charter of duties & the vagaries
of are listed in detail which at times may bore the reader a bit. It also brings
subtle tussles that goes on at the highest level between the generals
bureaucracy & depicts how the Fd Marshal showed them their place by his fir
wit & sense of humour.

The Business Of Comd

12. The next chapter ‘The Business of Comd’ begins with the author ask
Fd Marshal what was the most important quality a chief should have to whi
reply was that he must not seek a job after retirement. The chapter then goe
describe the preoccupations of the chief on assuming the mantle. The KR
brought out & the Fd Marshal’s style of functioning is blended with how the ch
the day were carried out. An instance worth mentioning is the chief’s aversio
offr addressing any civ as sir except the President who is the supreme cdr. F
rest all were just Mr Minister or Mr Secretary. In this acct of peace time activ
the chief’s secretariat, the author boldly brings out the lack of moral values
dis by many in the higher echelons - be it in recommendation for postings &
prom or the role of wives, mothers & in laws in securing their dear ones’
careers annoyed the chief was at this & how he tried to rectify the system.

Reorganisation

13 The fifth chapter ‘Reorganisation’ brings out the Fd Marshal’s ope

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raised & fmns rehashed to strike a bal between the Western & Eastern p
Other actions worth mention are the modernisation of Armd Corps, persuasion
offr to shift to Gen Cadre thus removing stagnation, starting of the HC co
keeping it w/o grading, est of College of Comb & Counting of ACR pts alon
exam results for selection to DSSC. The political & bureaucratic nexus exis
arms procurement & the chiefs efforts to minimize it are also given out.
interesting facts are small histories behind introduction of name tabs & desig
uniform for MNS.

Travelling With The Chief 

14. The chapter ‘Travelling With The Chief’ is a personal acct of many tr
author had accompanied the Fd Marshal on. One imp quality of the Fd Mar
his aversion to making the minutest alteration to a vis pgme once issued. H
realised the cascading effect it had on the pers down the chain. From this c
one gets to learn about how a chief’s vis is conducted in a unit; one also g
know that the CO’s stick orderly is not a permanent indl, but is actually
selected out of the day’s Qr Gd with the smartest turn out & impressive prese
he is supposed to accompany the CO the whole day wherever he goes rath
be a mere office runner.

Prelude to War 

16. ‘Prelude to War’ is a chapter which gives good insight to the behind-
the activities which formed the run up to the 1971 war. The events rumoured
as army’s refusal to go to war & others are recounted with believable
authenticity.

The War 

17. The chapter ‘The War’ along with the previous, makes for interesting r
the professional. One gets to know what were the concurrent political,
bureauc professional activities taking place at the HQ during the war pd. It
would interest many to know what bosses in Delhi would be doing when
they a fighting. The chapter does not give any op details barring few broad
menti
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19. A significant incident that reflected the Fd Marshal’s strength of

charac his refusal to rx the surrender from Gen Niazi. He believed that it was
Gen A show on grnd & therefore he should bask in its glory rather than
himself.

Aftermath

20. This chapter highlights the minor irritants that stood in the way of sign
Shimla Accord & how the Fd Marshal employed his diplomatic tact to ove
these. The author throws light on how close India came to getting LC accep
the IB, how close she came to having a Chief of Defences Staff & how clo
came to having a `Member Defence’ in the Planning Commission & ala
bureaucratic & professional meanness came in way to thwart all these.

Making Way For New Beginners

21. ‘Making Way For New Beginners’ is a solemn portrayal of the fate
that each service professional on retirement. How helpless a military man is
af retirement is brought out truthfully with the best example of the Fd
Marshal wh relinquishing office, was not even given a proper accn in Delhi,
thanks to a d minister, whose feathers he had ruffled while in service albeit
for genuine re The grace with which the Fd Marshal handled the situation
again shows th strength of the legend.

Post Script

22. The author uses this chapter to clarify the criticism gracelessly l
against the Fd Marshal on conduct of the war by Lt Gen JFR Jacob & Maj
Palit when he was in his death bed not even able to defend himself. These
crit had grabbed considerable media attn & are proved pointless by the
author w the first hand info of things.

23. The book ends with five appendices which are the scripts of various sp
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have about the genuineness & authenticity of the legend behind Fd Marshal
Manekshaw.

LANGUAGE

25. The book has a simple language with many phrases, idioms & quotes
enriches ones vocabulary & avoids monotony.

STYLE

27. The author has chosen to narrate the incidents in a very random man
purpose of which mainly is to reflect the character of Fd Marshal Maneks
various contexts. It comes across as a flow of recollections of a four
interspersed with unavoidable digressions into the profession of arms as a
He has boldly brought out names of people regardless of the virtues they
displayed in adversity. He has been candid in describing the many malpr
which exist at higher levels within & outside our profession.

PRODUCTION VALUE

28. Hard binding, with good quality papers & lucid error free printing mak
pleasant read. Rs 450/- costing makes it suitable to be procured by institution
hard Manekshaw fans. This book was first published in 2002. The Im
photograph of the Fd Marshal on its cover page is an eye catcher.

VERDICT

29. Tgt Audience. Any one who is interested to know more abo
legend. And of course, it would do great good if all generals read & tried to e
qualities highlighted in it.

30. Final Verdict. For the author it is a rich tribute to his leader, but
ordinary reader, it is a good insight into Sam's personality.
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