By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday mourned the death of former Indian army chief Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw describing him as one of the greatest soldiers and a truly inspiring leader of the country.
In a touching tribute, Prime Minister Singh said Sam Bahadur, as he was affectionately called, served the Indian Army with great distinction for over four decades and his legacy would continue for years to come.
“He served the Indian Army with great distinction for over four decades beginning with the very first military engagement free India was dragged into in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh said in his condolence message.
“Sam Bahadur was the architect and the inspiring leader of the operations and the consequent military victory in what is now Bangladesh.”
“Military historians will forever record the strategic brilliance and the inspirational leadership of Sam Bahadur.”
Manekshaw died in Wellington in Tamil Nadu early Friday after battling several ailments for the past few years. He was 94.
As army chief, Manekshaw scripted India’s military victory over Pakistan in 1971 leading to the creation of Bangladesh.