On January 8, 1969, General Sam Manekshaw took over as Chief of Army Staff in India. Over the next few years, he would lead the Indian Army to one of its greatest triumphs in 1971; a successful 13-day campaign that resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh. As an acknowledgment of his brilliant leadership and service to the nation, General Manekshaw was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1972.
The Nilgiris: On Tuesday, the Madras Regimental Centre (MRC) and Station Headquarter, Wellington in Nilgiris district held a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 15th death anniversary of Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, MC.
Lt Gen Virendra Vats, YSM, SM, VSM, Commandant DSSC, laid a wreath at the soldier's final resting place at the Parsi Zoroastrian Cemetery in Udhagamandalam on behalf of the tri-services fraternity.
On January 8, 1969, Manekshaw was appointed Chief of Army Staff. He successfully crafted India's greatest military victory by leading the Indian Army into the 1971 operations that resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh in just 13 days. In 1972, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. On 15 January 1973, the General Officer was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal in appreciation of his great service to the armed forces and the nation. He breathed his last on 27 June, 2008.
Manekshaw had settled in Wellington (in Tamil Nadu) after his military career. His association with the station goes back to the time when he was Commandant of Defence Services Staff College. A man with unflinching moral courage and exemplary leadership qualities his life would always remain a source of inspiration to the armed forces and the nation.