Philatelic Tribute to Sam Bahadur

Today we lost a great patriot of India Sam Manekshaw. We pay Philatelic Tributes to this great soldier. We have some recently issued Covers by Army Postal Service for Today's special Post which we dedicate to this great soldier. Our special thanks to Mr. Vinod Sabharwal for these covers.

Former Army Chief Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw passed away at Military Hospital in Wellington today. Manekshaw who had led India to victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war was 94 years old. The Padma Vibhushan and Military Cross awardee, Manekshaw assumed charge of the Indian Army, as the 8th Chief of Army Staff, on June 07, 1969. Born in Amritsar, Punjab in April 1914, he completed his schooling in Amritsar and Sherwood College, Nainital. He then joined the first batch of 40 cadets at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehra Dun on 01 October 1932. He passed out of the IMA in December 1934 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He held several regimental assignments and was first attached to the Royal Scouts and later to the 12 Frontier Force Rifles. Manekshaw succeeded General Kumaramangalam as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in June 1969. For his selfless service to the nation, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1972 and was conferred with the honorary rank of Field Marshal in January 1973. He retired a fortnight later on 15 January 1973, after completing nearly four decades of military service.

Col. Suresh Bagga has sent following information from Panckula paying his tributes to Field Marshal Manekshaw......

Indian Military Academy, Dehradun

The credo inscribed in the famous Chetwode Building of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun reads:

“The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time. The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next. Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, Always and every time.”

Sam Hormusji Framji "Sam Bahadur" Jamshedji Manekshaw passed out from the IMA in December 1934 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army.