Highlights

  • Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was India's Army Chief in 1971
  • Manekshaw was awarded the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan
  • In January 1973, Manekshaw was conferred with the rank of Field Marshal

Latest news

Not a fugitive, but a rebel: Amritpal Singh in new video

Not a fugitive, but a rebel: Amritpal Singh in new video

IPL 2023: Full list of injured players & replacements

IPL 2023: Full list of injured players & replacements

In pics: PM Modi makes surprise visit to new parliament building

In pics: PM Modi makes surprise visit to new parliament building

14 people dead in Indore temple collapse

14 people dead in Indore temple collapse

9 soldiers killed in Army Black Hawk helicopter crash in Kentucky

9 soldiers killed in Army Black Hawk helicopter crash in Kentucky

50 years of 1971 war | What Army chief Sam Manekshaw told PM Indira Gandhi when asked if he was ready

Just before the 1971 India-Pak war, PM Indira Gandhi asked Army Chief Sam Manekshaw if he was ready and he had replied saying ‘I am always ready, sweetie’. But there was a time when he wasn’t. 

Field Marshal Sam ‘Bahadur’ Manekshaw - the chief architect of India’s victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Legend goes that just before the war began Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked the Army Chief if he was ready and he had replied saying ‘I am always ready, sweetie’.

But there was a time when he wasn’t and he minced no words conveying that to the PM. This is the story of that time as narrated by him years later.

Also watch: 50 years of 1971 war | Pakistan's atrocities, India's intervention & Bangladesh's liberation - a timeline

In April 1971 when refugees started pouring into India’s bordering states from East Pakistan because of West Pakistan’s offensive, the PM called for a cabinet meeting and also summoned Army Chief Manekshaw for it and asked -

Indira Gandhi: What are you doing about it?

Sam Manekshaw: Nothing, it's got nothing to do with me. You didn't consult me when you allowed the BSF, the CRP and RAW to encourage the Pakistanis to revolt. Now that you are in trouble, you come to me. I have a long nose. I know what's happening.

Indira Gandhi: I want you to enter Pakistan.

Sam Manekshaw: That means war!

Indira Gandhi: I do not mind if it is war.

Sam Manekshaw: God said let there be light and there was light. Now you say let there be war and there will be war. But are you prepared? I am certainly not. This is the end of April. The Himalayan passes are opening and there can be an attack from China.

Sam Manekshaw then went on to tell PM Indira Gandhi that he would need all the road space and the entire railway network to move his men and in peak harvest season that meant that the produce wouldn’t be able to be transported and it would rot. He explained to her how the rains in East Pakistan would adversely affect the troop movement and that Air Force would not be able to provide support because of the weather.

Sam Manekshaw: My armoured division is supposed to have 189 tanks operational but only 11 are fit to fight.

And when the Finance Minister asked him why only 11 tanks were operational, the Army Chief had a quip for him too.

Sam Manekshaw: Because you are the Finance Minister. I have been asking you for money over a year and you say you haven’t got it.

Sam Manekshaw: Now Prime Minister, give me your orders. 

The grim Prime Minister with her teeth clenched replied -

Indira Gandhi: The Cabinet will meet again at four o'clock.

As the ministers started to leave the PM asked the Chief to stay back.

Sam Manekshaw: Resignation on grounds of health, mental or physical?

Indira Gandhi: Everything you told me is true.

Sam Manekshaw: Yes! It is my job to tell you the truth. And it is my job to fight, it is my job to fight to win and I have to tell you the truth.

Indira Gandhi: All right Sam, you know what I want?

Sam Manekshaw: Yes, I know what you want

7 months later on December 3, India went to war with Pakistan... on 16th December Pakistan Army surrendered, India won and Bangladesh gained its independence.

Up Next

50 years of 1971 war | What Army chief Sam Manekshaw told PM Indira Gandhi when asked if he was ready

50 years of 1971 war | What Army chief Sam Manekshaw told PM Indira Gandhi when asked if he was ready

In pics: PM Modi makes surprise visit to new parliament building

In pics: PM Modi makes surprise visit to new parliament building

14 people dead in Indore temple collapse

14 people dead in Indore temple collapse

Will not surrender: fugitive Amritpal Singh in purported audio clip

Will not surrender: fugitive Amritpal Singh in purported audio clip

Tripura BJP leader allegedly watches obscene video inside Assembly. Video goes viral

Tripura BJP leader allegedly watches obscene video inside Assembly. Video goes viral

YouTube verifying viewership claims of Rahul Gandhi's Adani videos: report

YouTube verifying viewership claims of Rahul Gandhi's Adani videos: report

More videos

Tamil Nadu: directive to rename 'curd' withdrawn after 'Hindi imposition' row escalates

Tamil Nadu: directive to rename 'curd' withdrawn after 'Hindi imposition' row escalates

11 dead, 19 rescued in Indore temple well collapse: police

11 dead, 19 rescued in Indore temple well collapse: police

Congress vs BJP over Germany's statement on Rahul Gandhi

Congress vs BJP over Germany's statement on Rahul Gandhi

25 people trapped in temple after stepwell collapses in Indore

25 people trapped in temple after stepwell collapses in Indore

Lalit Modi threatens to sue Rahul Gandhi in UK

Lalit Modi threatens to sue Rahul Gandhi in UK

Germany weighs in on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament

Germany weighs in on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from Parliament

CBI pressurised Amit Shah to frame Modi under UPA rule? Here's what he said

CBI pressurised Amit Shah to frame Modi under UPA rule? Here's what he said

Pakistan government's Twitter account withheld in India

Pakistan government's Twitter account withheld in India

Project Akashteer: Defence Ministry inks Rs 2,400 cr deal with Bharat Electronics

Project Akashteer: Defence Ministry inks Rs 2,400 cr deal with Bharat Electronics

In a first, over 4000 women pilgrims apply for Hajj travel without 'Mehram'

In a first, over 4000 women pilgrims apply for Hajj travel without 'Mehram'

Editorji Technologies Pvt. Ltd. © 2022 All Rights Reserved.