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U.S.I. JOURNAL
INDIA'S OLDEST JOURNAL ON DEFENCE AFFAIRS (Established:1870)
Short
Reviews of Recent Books
Leadership
: Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
By Major General Shubhi
Sood (Retd.) (Noida : SDS Publishers, 2006), 282p, $ 19.00
ISBN 81-902828-4-0.
In a market saturated with books on leadership, this heartwarming
addition on a multi-faceted personality must surely create
a niche of its own.
The Field Marshal is an epitome of an officer and gentleman.
A man marked for ascendancy, he exhibited traits of a great
leader very early in his career. Perhaps no commanding officer
could have erred more grievously than the one who wrote in
FM's first annual report, "…this man may one day
become an officer."
In an anecdotal account the varied and colourful traits of
this icon have been delightfully encapsulated by the author
with the advantage of proximity and the skill of expressive
language. The attribute of 'being lucky'-so necessary for
a leader-has been highlighted. The Field Marshal Survived
'Sudden death' both in the field and in his career several
times. The other attributes which stand out are his churchillian
gift of repartee, his ready wit and his ability to interact
with natural ease and charm at any level from a jawan to the
Prime Minister. Bucking the prevailing trend the FM was genuinely
averse to flatterers and flattery. Possibly the most remarkable
aspect of this kaleidoscopic personality is his concern for
and loyalty to his subordinates. In an era in which the two
way flow of loyalty is more preached than practiced, he gave
more loyalty than he expected.
On the professional front the author has explained how the
Field Marshal gave impetus to modernization, procured the
latest equipment, his role in the IGMDP and the circumstances
under which the some what sluggish Vijayant Tank was purchased.
Certain contentious issues needed greater coverage. Though
the author has quoted from Lieutenant General JFR Jacob's
book, he has not retorted to some sensitive points raised
therein. On the much debated issue of Dacca not being specifically
nominated as an objective, the reasons given by the author
are not wholly convincing.
Good photographs have added value, though some needed to be
of a larger size and some, like 'Pioneer Course' (page 9)
would improve with annotation. Maps definitely needed to be
of larger scale to aid comprehension. Some printer devils
have crept in, such as 'Riana' (instead of Raina) or right
(instead of rites)
Quite understandably a slight degree of here worship is discernible.
Were there really no chinks in the armour? They were there
in case of all great captains through ages, from Hannibal
to Napoleon to Rommel to MacArthur.
Given the quality of production, the book is reasonably priced
for institutions and libraries. However for individual possession
a less expensive edition is recommended.
Brigadier M S chowdhury, VSM (Retd.)
Behind
the Baton
By
Bakhtiar Dadabhoy
Leadership : Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
by Maj. Gen. (Retd) Shubhi Sood. Published in 2006 by SDS
publishers,1709 Sector-29, Noida-201301 Pp: xx+290, Price:
Rs-795/-
India's first field Marshal is a subject of abiding interest.
There is no denying that the man behind the baton of the Field
Marshal has undoubtedly been one of the most interesting and
at times controversial figures in the history of the armed
forces. Leadership Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw is the second
biography on one of India's greatest military heroes. The
first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: Soldiering with Deignity
by Lt. Gen. Depinder Singh was published in 2002. Both biographies
have been written by persons who knew the Field Marshal intimately
: Singh was his military assistant and Sood was his Aide de
Camp (ADC) . Dr. Samuel Johnson would have been pleased (even
though he considered the writing of biography a waste of time).
The latest offering by Sood is a charming account of the professionalism,
easy demeanor, compassion and above all the sense of humor
of Manekshaw, the hero of India's victory over Pakistan in
1971. Manekshaw is man with vision, competence compassion
and courage. That his ability to develop an instant rapport
with his troops proved invaluable in raising the spirits of
his soldiers and officers at a time when their morale was
at its lowest after the 1962 debacle is well known. Sood writes
"He was humane and approachable and had time for all.
He took great pain to ensure that no one in his commands was
harassed."
Sood also tells us of his care and concern towards all those
who had worked with him. He narrates the incident of his treatment
of Mitha Singh who had imparted weapon training to Manekshaw
in his youth when he came to meet his just as he was he was
leaving to attend the govenor's At home. Manekshaw asked him
to relax in the guard room saying that he would attend to
his needs after he returned. Maneksha was very respectful
to officers and men, believing that the dignity of human beings
must be maintained and respected irrespective of their station
in life. Sood recalls being ticked off when he shoved an ex-serviceman
who had pushed Manekshaw in the rush to meet him outside his
office: "Do you not realize that one day you and I will
also be in this plight!"
Sood who was posted as his ADC in September 1968 recalls how
he sat in the seat next to the driver only to be told by Manekshaw:
" You are my ADC and not my driver's." He further
recalls how at the same time four dogs also got into the car.
Manekshaw's fondness for dogs was legendary. They would accompany
him to the office and return home in the afternoon.
The book is an interesting anecdotal account of the career
of an Indian military icon. Manekshaw's various postings are
dealt with in detail and it also contains details of the 1971
Indo-Pak conflict. There is also a reference to the incident
with Lt. Gen. B.M. Kaul and Krishna Menon, which nearly destroyed
his career on trumped up charges. Some of the details are
to my mind superfluous. For instance there was no need to
reproduce Manekshaw's 1994 interview with Prem Shankar Jha
on the Indo-Pak conflict in 1947 of Bangladesh's proclamation
of independence or the correspondence between Indira Gandhi
and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tajuddin Ahmed. Similarly
there are other military details which could have been avoided
without detracting from the main narrative.
Apart from the well-know anecdotes about Manekshaw. Sood also
comes up with some lesser-known anecdotes of a more personal
nature in which he himself was involved. Manekshaw was very
sensitive to the people feelings. On December 9, 1971 Pakistan
sank the INS Khuri. It was under the command of Capt. M.N.
Mulla who was related to Indira Gandhi and was research and
Analysis Wing Chief R.N. Kao's brother-in-law. When Kao asked
Manekshaw about the details Sood, proud of his information,
butted in saying that Mulla had gone down with the ship. Manekshaw
told Kao that they were not sure and later blasted Sood for
being so insensitive.
Manekshaw was famous for his sense of humor and there are
countless tales in circulation. While serving with his unit
in Burma two of his men were caught by the Military Police
in a house of ill repute. They were marched up to Manekshaw,
their company commander, who found that only one was guilty
while the other was just a sidekick. After berating the guilty
party he dismissed him from his presence. A little later feeling
that he had been too harsh he sent for him and asked him:
"Tumhara paisa Vasul Hai. (Did you get your money's worth?)"
When the soldier replied that the Military Police had landed
up before any thing could happen both had a hearty Laugh.
On another occasion a young officer missed an appointment
with the area commander whom he was to escort into Manekshaw's
brigade sector in Firozepur because he was detained by his
girl friend, Manekshaw after giving him a piece of his mind
softened the blow by saying that at his age he would have
done the same! The patern continued throughout his career
: there was informality off the parade ground but an unprofessional
attiude at work was anathema.
But the best was reserved for the Australian officer when
Manekshaw at the behest of Field marshal Lord Claude Auchinleck
undertook a lecture tour of Australia. After having heard
Manekshaw prise the Indian army the officer remarked: "
colonel, I appreciate all you've said about how good the Indian
army is but I wouldn't want you to go away thinking that we
Australians are anything less, in fact we are very proud of
ourselves and our ancestors. "Manekshaw's reply was devastating
:" so you should be, you were selected by the finest
judges in England.
Manekshaw, known for his quick wit, also had the ability to
say the right thing at the right time. When President de Gaulle
died, Indira Gandhi went to attend his funeral. On her return,
the three service chiefs had gone to the airport to receive
her as was customary. When Indira Gandhi came to Manekshaw,
he complimented her on her hairdo. She smiled and said "you
are the only one who has notice it" His rapport with
Gandhi was good and probably this is why he could get away
with telling her that he was not ready for war when she wanted
him to deploy his troops in April 1971.
Though Manekshaw and Indira Gandhi shared a warm relationship,
his relations with Jagivan Ram was a little strained, when
Jagiven Ram tried to raise the issue of reservations in the
Army. Manekshaw refused. He sent a reply saying that action
should first be taken against his as the chief since the had
not only failed to implement the policy but also was in full
agreement with the actions of his predecessors.
It is quite apparent that this book is a labor of love. Though
the biographer makes no bones about the fact that he is an
admirer of the subject of his biography at no time does the
biography degenerate into hagiography. The book however could
have been better edited. The indiscriminate use of inverted
comas is curious to say the least. On the whole Sood's book
makes for lively reading and is a welcome addition to the
literature on a man whose first annual report read. "This
officer, I beg his pardon, this man, may one day become an
officer." Manekshaw used to joke that not only did he
make an officer but that they even made him chief. (He was
not a Field Marshal then.)
Indira Gandhi congratulating Manekshaw
on the Pakistan army's surrender in Bangladesh.
"Leadership Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw"
By: Maj. Gen. Shubhi
Sood
SDSPublishers Pages 290, Rs. 795/-
1709, Brahmaputra Appartments
Sector 29, Noida-201301
Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
"India's first Field Marshal
is a subject of abiding interest. The rise to military stardom
of a cadet who lived life slightly on the edge in the academy,
Manekshaw's life makes for lively reading."
THE INDIAN EXPRESS-9TH APRIL2006
A Charismatic warrior
Leadership: Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
By Maj Gen Shubhi Sood (retd.),SDS Publishers Pages290,£19
Harwant Singh
A DCS and staff officers are known to grow in the shadow of
their generals and rarely manage to spin out of the "larger-than-life"
perceived image of their bosses. Yet they do get a unique
opportunity to observe them from close quarters. Refreshingly,
Maj-Gen S. D.Sood (Shubhi Sood) has not only succeeded in
disengaging himself from the spell of the all powerful personality
of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, but also has been able to
step back and take a broader and compulsively objective look
at the making of that great military leader.
At the best of times, Sam presents a kaleidoscopic picture
of all the facets of leadership. And to condense his 90 years
and more than four decades of an illustrious, action-packed
career without losing objectivity was a daunting task, which
Shubhi Sood has handled with deftness.
Considerable research has gone into compiling this book that
covers Sam's early childhood, and his initial years in service,
culminating in the action at the Sittang river bridge in Burma,
where he nearly died. Leading. his company, he had charged
into the Japanese position and taken a burst of light machine
gun in his stomach and chest, in all
nine bullets, and won the Military Cross. His was the last
ship to leave Singapore before it fell to the Japanese. In
his condition he would not have survived the Japanese prisoners
of war camp. Twice destiny had intervened to pull him from
the jaws of death, perhaps for fulfilling a larger mission
in life.
The book details the abiding quality of his large heartedness,
generosity and forgiving nature. His concern and care for
the welfare of officers and troops endeared him to his staff
and the Army. He faced the infamous inquisition against him,
while he was Commandant Staff College, with equanimity and
dignity and later never harmed those who gave false evidence
against him.
When Indira Gandhi told him that she had reports of his planning
a coup, he responded by saying, "Madame Prime Minister,you
have nothing to fear from me or the Army.You do your and let
me do mine." He was fearless and his commitment to the
Army
The book bring out his strategic grasp over national security
issues. In the face of pressure from the Cabinet and the Prime
Minister to mount an offensive against East Pakistan, in April
itself. he offered to resign rather than going against his
professional judgment His detractors heaped much calumny on
him, but nothing could, deter him from his resolve. The act
bears similarity with Marshal Kutuzov's refusal to defend
Moscow against Napoleon's advance on the Russian capital.
Indian troops won their last great victory against a foreign
army of importance in 303 BC, when Chandragupt Maurya defeated
Seleucus Nicator. Now, after a period of over 2300 years,
Sam Manekshaw made the country experience the glow of a stunning
victory against Pakistan's army in East Pakistan.
As Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, he was alive to the
sensitivities, of the other two services. He displayed natural
charm and people were attracted to him.
The book is all about leadership-all that goes into the making
of a leader and what it takes to influence other and make
them follow. The book should be of a great value to those
in and out of uniform, as also to others in the corporate
world and political field.
The reviewer is a retired Lieutenant-General
Source: The Tribune on Sunday, January 15,2006
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