India, April 3 -- Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was born on April 3, 1914. Popularly referred to as Sam Bahadur, he began his military career in the British Indian Army in World War II. During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, he was the Chief of Army Staff, whose strategic brilliance and exemplary leadership are often considered to be deciding factors in the outcome of the conflict.

Sam Manekshaw went on to become the first Field Marshal of India, which is the highest attainable rank in the Indian Army. The larger-than-life character was the subject of a 2023 biographical film, where he was portrayed by Vicky Kaushal. The Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhusan awardee passed away at the age of 94 on June 27, 2008.

Manekshaw knew his w...