Remembering Sam Manekshaw: 5 Lesser-Known Facts About India’s First Field Marshal

3rd April marks the birth anniversary of India’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, also popularly known as “Sam Bahadur”. He served the Indian Army for four decades, including leadership during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war.

Born in Amritsar to a doctor father and came from a family with military connections where his brother Jemi rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshal in the Indian Air Force. Throughout his remarkable career, Manekshaw participated in five wars, beginning with World War II and including the conflicts against Pakistan in 1948, 1965, and 1971 and 1962 Indo-Sino War.

His legacy was recently celebrated in the 2023 biopic “Sam Bahadur,” where Vicky Kaushal portrayed the military leader.

5 Lesser-Known Facts About Sam Manekshaw

1. Sam Manekshaw was a Parsi, but he was fluent in Punjabi due to his upbringing in Amritsar and he often used Punjabi to communicate with the Sikh soldiers.
2. He was honoured with two of India’s highest civilian honors, the Padma Bhushan in 1968 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1972.
3. A postage stamp featuring Manekshaw in his Field Marshal’s uniform was released by the Former President Pratibha Patil on December 16, 2008.
4. He received the title “Bahadur”  by the troops of the 8 Gorkha Rifles, who were very fond of him. He held the ceremonial position of Colonel of the Regiment with the Gorkha Rifles.
5. Famous author Salman Rushdie mentioned Sam Manekshaw in his Booker Prize-winning novel Midnight’s Children. He is mentioned in a chapter entitled “Sam and the Tiger”.

Also Read: Army Medical Corps Raising Day 2025: A Tribute To The Heroes! Glimpse Into Its History, Motto And Significance