Historical
Fiction
“My force is ready,
Sweetie,” said Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw on 3 Dec 1971.
Indira Gandhi did not
display her annoyance at being called Sweetie because she could not afford the
display at that time, much as she loved displays. She wanted to win the war with Pakistan and
Manekshaw was the only person who could do it for her.
It took seven months for
the military leader of India to give her the assurance that his fighters were
ready. Ms Gandhi wanted immediate
solutions. Manekshaw said, “I’m a
fighter. Honest fighter.”
Seven months ago, his
question to Ms Gandhi the Prime Minister was, “Have you read the Bible?”
“What has the Bible got to
do with this?” asked Sardar Swaran Singh, Foreign Affairs Minister.
“See the first pages. ‘Let there be light,’ said God. And there was light. Now you say, ‘Let there be war.’ And there will be war. Wars can take place at the whim and fancy of
any ruler. But are we prepared? Going to war without necessary preparations
is the first step to damnation.”
“But the Chief Ministers
of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura are angry with me. The Pakistanis from East Pakistan are entering
their states because of what Butcher of Bengal, bloody General Tikka Khan, is
doing in East Pakistan. I am the Prime
Minister of the country. I have to
safeguard every state.”
Manekshaw flared up. “You didn’t consult me when you allowed the
BSF, the CRP and RAW to encourage the Pakistanis to revolt. Now that you are in
trouble, you come to me. I have a long nose. I know what’s happening.”
Indira Gandhi’s nose
twitched. Her face bent down a little
for the first time. Manekshaw didn’t
like that. He didn’t want his PM’s face
bending down in front of anyone, not even before the boss of the armed forces
of the country.
“What do you want me to
do?” he asked.
“I want you to enter
Pakistan,” said Indira Gandhi.
“That means war,” said
Manekshaw. “Give me time.” He knew that summer was just the wrong time
to start a war in the mountains with all the rains that would come confusing
the Indian Army that was not used to rains.
Snow in the winter was a good mask for fighters.
Indira Gandhi was
angry. “I can dismiss you from your
post.”
“Do if you wish so,”
Manekshaw’s nose twitched.
“I give you time,” said
Indira Gandhi who understood the integrity of the man whose nose twitched more
significantly than her own.
And Bangladesh was born in
less than a year’s time. After one of
the shortest wars in history: just 13 days.
Indira was “Sweetie” to
Manekshaw and Manekshaw was a fighter who saw light even in a war.
Inspired by the following link and also by the
present PM of India who has an army officer (who challenged the Indian
government) as a minister in his cabinet.
Ha ha, that sounds fun.. Coming from being known as the only male voice in the cabinet to being called Sweetie, Indira Gandhi sure seems to have had a list of name tags :D .. It is pretty impressive that Manekshaw held to his ideas and decisions without yielding to pressure. And it was really impressive the way he handled the situation as well. Well I guess leaders do have a lot about them :)
ReplyDeleteYes, good leaders command respect. Who but a person of Manekshaw's calibre could have stood up against Ms Gandhi?
DeleteGreat insight, loved this post.
ReplyDeleteIt came from a light-hearted comment on Asianet TV yesterday: that Manekshaw called Ms Gandhi 'Sweetie' on the occasion mentioned in the post. Thanks for the appreciation.
DeleteField Marshal Manekshaw was a true braveheart...
ReplyDeleteGenuine bravery goes hand in hand with personal integrity.
DeleteI do not know if Bangladesh war was right or wrong for India. This may have given Pakistani's a reason to promote insurrection in Kashmir, Punjab and countless terrorisms. But certainly General Manekshaw was a great general. Indira Gandhi was a decisive leader. War certainy was good for Mrs. Gandhi.
ReplyDeleteDid Ms Gandhi have a better option at that time? I don't know. But, I agree, Ms Gandhi was responsible for some of the calamities: Bhindranwale, for example.
DeleteI like it.
ReplyDeleteHow many of today's ministers' have Manekshaw's integrity?
ReplyDelete