Comments on: Field Marshal Manekshaw

By: Martin Just

Martin Just — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:22:08 +0000

I had the pleasure meeting field marshal Manekshaw several times, respected and admired this great man. The most fun (embarrassment) however I had when I met him the very first time.
By the way, I was born and grew up in Switzerland and working as liaison officer at LMW in Coimbatore at that time, spending a little over 3 years in India (1974-1977).
I was invited to a party in Coonoore and was sitting on a sofa. Here comes this vibrant gentlemen and sits right next to me and naturally we started talking. I introduced myself; he didn’t which I though at that time was a bit strange. After a while I asked him if he was in tea business which was a possibility since so much tea is grown in the Nilgiri Mountain. His answer was –No-. Nothing else which again I thought was a bit strange.
After about 20 minutes he excused himself and went to the bathroom. Immediately the hostess rushed to me and kind of scolded me, saying “How could you ask him if he was in tea business, don’t you know you are sitting next to field marshal Manekshaw? “No, of course I did not know otherwise I would not have asked my stupid question” was my reply. What to do?
Well, he came back and set down next to me again and I decided to take care of my kind of insult immediately. I’m sorry thinking you were a tea planter and please accept my apology, I said.
See, young men. You coming from Switzerland and Switzerland suppose being a neutral country I thought you did not know the difference between a tea planter and a field marshal so don’t worry, you are excused. Using “excused” not in a military way but in an extreme nice and friendly way. As a result of this the entire room exploded in laughter and every time I ran in to field marshal Manekshaw (about 6-7 times) he called me by my first name and we always had good discussions solving the problems of the world.
What a men – rest in peace-
Martin Just
Inman SC. USA

By: white magpie

white magpie — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:21:49 +0000

LoL….Don’t take it too seriously..All newspapers other than the business editions are just arsewipes…

By: Ritu

Ritu — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:41:18 +0000

So true Alka… Infact there was an email that was circulated that proved the apathy of the entire political class to his death. Imagine, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, President Pratibha Patil did not attend the funeral of the Field Marshal. Shame….

By: YeaWo

YeaWo — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:20:06 +0000

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By: AmitL

AmitL — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:32:09 +0000

Hi,Alka-this is so true…forget Sehwag,the media would have focused more on the Aarushi murder case or the hit-and-run victim of a bus in Jhumritalaiya or something they consider equally sensational. The Field Marshall’s death would not bring in the ad revenue,you see.

By: Ritu

Ritu — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:04:27 +0000

Oh God Alka, I so agree with ur post!!!!

By: Praney

Praney — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:37:27 +0000

Same here, too tired of Indian Media