Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw , commonly referred to as Sam Manekshaw and Sam Bahadur, held the prestigious position of Chief of the Army Staff.

During the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, he became a distinguished member of the Indian Army and the first officer to ever reach the rank of field marshal in the Indian Army.

He is widely acclaimed as the mastermind behind India's triumph in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani conflict .

This article aims to provide in-depth information about Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in relation to the Civil Services Examination.

The early years in the life of Sam Manekshaw, the Indian military leader, can be traced back to his formative period.

On 14 April 1914, Sam Manekshaw came into the world in the city of Amritsar, as the son of Hormizd Manekshaw and his wife Hilla. Hormizd Manekshaw achieved great success in the medical field, running a thriving clinic and pharmacy in the heart of Amritsar. Among the couple's children, Sam is the third son and fifth child, bringing the total number of children to six, which includes four sons and two daughters.

Sam, desiring to follow in his father's footsteps as a doctor, requested to be sent to London in order to pursue his medical education. Sam's father declined the request, citing Sam's young age and the fact that Sam's other two brothers, who were pursuing engineering degrees in London, were already being financially assisted by Hormizd.

Instead, Manekshaw enrolled in the Hindu Sabha College (now Amritsar's Hindu College), and successfully completed his final exams in April 1932. These exams were conducted by the University of Punjab, and he passed with a third division in science.

In 1931, the Indian Military College Committee proposed the creation of a military academy  to educate and prepare Indian individuals for officer roles in the army. The Public Service Commission conducts an examination to select candidates for a three-year course at the academy. In direct defiance of his father's objections, Sam Manekshaw bravely defied conventional norms and submitted his application for the entrance exams in Delhi when the notice for the examination was announced. He managed to secure a spot among the fifteen cadets on 1st October 1932, having successfully competed for it.

The professional journey of Sam Manekshaw in the military

Sam Manekshaw's military career chronicles an illustrious professional odyssey. Following his commission on February 4, 1935, Sam Manekshaw was enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots, in adherence to the customary practice of serving in a British unit prior to being transferred to an Indian unit.

In May 1938, he assumed the position of quartermaster for his company in Burma while being stationed in the 12th Frontier Force Regiment.

The Field Marshal, in the upcomingWorld War II , would experience combat in Burma. He would demonstrate exceptional service during the Bruma campaign of 1942, receiving the Military Cross, the most prestigious honor given to soldiers from the Commonwealth.

After India's Partition, Sam Manekshaw's enlistment with the 12th Frontier Force Regiment in the Pakistan Army necessitated his transfer to the 8th Gorkha Rifles.

On 22 October, Pakistani troops smoothly entered Kashmir and took control of Domel and Muzaffarabad, coinciding with the transfer of the commanding officerof the 3rd Battalion, 5 Gorkha Rifles to his new post.

In the midst of signing the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Sam Maneekshaw, was engaged in monitoring the approaching Pakistani Army from the skies. He proposed the notion of using an aerial operation to deploy the Indian Army in Kashmir for its protection against potential capture.

After twelve months, he was admitted to the Imperial Defence College in London to undertake an intensive leadership program.

On December 20, 1957, when he arrived, he took on the position of being the General Officer Commanding (GOC) for the 26th Infantry Division, assuming the temporary rank of major general.

Manekshaw received a promotion to the substantive rank of major general on 1 March 1959.

Contribution in the Indo-Pak conflict of 1971

After the West Pakistani government refused to meet the demand for increased autonomy in East Pakistan, a separatist movement began to gain momentum. In March, the secession movement in Pakistan was met with a forceful retaliation from the army. This action resulted in the death of numerous East Pakistanis and compelled countless others to seek refugee in India. Fully aware of the economic burden posed by the refugee crisis and presented with a chance to outsmart its rival, India chose to aid in the establishment of Bangladesh. The imminent commencement of the 1971 India-Pakistan War was imminent.

In April, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inquired about the readiness of the Indian Army to Sam Manekshaw. He stated that the majority of their armored and infantry divisions were currently stationed in different locations, necessitating a considerable amount of time to transfer them to the East Pakistan border. Furthermore, the accessibility of the Himalayan mountain passes posed a potential risk of Chinese involvement, further complicating the conflict for India. Sam Manesksaw was confident that he could ensure victory if he had full control over the resolution of the conflict.

In recognition of his valuable contributions to the nation of India, the President of India bestowed Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw with a Padma Vibhushan  in 1972. After a successful career spanning almost 40 years, he decided to retire from active duty on 15 January 1973. He made his home in Coonoor, a civilian town adjacent to Wellington Cantonment, where he had previously held the position of commandant at the Defence Services Staff College, together with his wife, Silloo.

For a comprehensive understanding of the distinctions between Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan

Later on, he departed from this world on June 27, 2008, at the impressive age of 94. Each year, the celebration of Vijay Diwas takes place on 16 December as a tribute to the victory achieved under the leadership of Manekshaw in 1971.

Every year, Vijay Diwas is commemorated on 16 December in honor of the triumph led by Manekshaw in 1971.