National

People from all walks of life pay homage to Sam Manekshaw

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

A SOLDIER’S GENERAL: Defence Minister A.K. Antony paying homage to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw with Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh; Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major; Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor; and Navy Chief Sureesh Mehta at India Gate in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister A.K. Antony and the three service chiefs along with hundreds of people from all walks of life on Monday paid homage to the soldier’s general, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who passed away in Tamil Nadu last week.

Bangladesh envoy Liaquat Ali Choudhury paid tribute to the man who played a leading role in liberating their country.

After Mr. Choudhury left, a slight drizzle made Army personnel prematurely close the condolence book.

The Bangladesh High Commissioner described him as, “a legendary soldier and formidable leader of men and women who made great contribution to our liberation war in 1971. For this contribution Manekshaw will always be remembered by us.”

Army sources here said in the period between late morning and early afternoon, about 600 people managed to pen their respects in the condolence book, which will be placed everyday from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. till Thursday.

In the morning, Mr. Antony was the first to make an entry in the book.

He described the architect of the 1971 war as “the commander who led from the front.”

He was followed by Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh and three services chiefs besides other ranking military officers.

Several veterans of the 1942 Burma War during which the then Captain Manekshaw was decorated for bravery also remembered him.

The Defence Minister and the three services chiefs were unable to attend the funeral of the Field Marshal on June 27.

Sources close to the Defence Minister cited his preoccupation with the hectic political developments while the Chief of the Army Staff, Deepak Kapoor, could not cut short his visit to Russia.

However, some senior army officers had been deputed to maintain a constant vigil by his bedside.

Later, Gen. Kapoor announced the dedication of a project for higher military learning in Delhi to the memory of the Field Marshal.

This centre will also house an Army-backed think tank, the Centre for Land Warfare Studies.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu