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- Sam Manekshaw; Today History Aaj Ka Itihas 03 April | India First Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Story Facts
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On this day in 1914, the country’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was born. Under his leadership, India defeated Pakistan in the 1971 war. On 3 December 1971, the Pakistani army attacked India. India gave such a response to the Pakistani attack that within 13 days, the Pakistani army laid down its arms and more than 90 thousand soldiers of Pakistan surrendered.
This is believed to be the largest number of soldiers laid down in a war. Pakistan suffered heavy losses in the 1971 war and a new country Bangladesh was born. The credit for this memorable victory of the Indian Army goes to Sam Manekshaw.
Was recruited in the army against the will of the father
Manekshaw was born on 3 April 1914 in Amritsar. Manekshaw’s father was a doctor and he himself wanted to become a doctor. Manekshaw wanted to go to England to study medicine, but his father did not allow him, saying that he was too young to live alone abroad.
Due to this, he got angry with his father and in a way, adopting a rebellious attitude against his decision, joined the army by taking the army recruitment exam.
Sam Manekshaw was hit by 7 bullets during the Second World War, the good thing is that the life of this brave soldier was saved.
Special advice was given to Indira Gandhi regarding the 1971 war
In 1971, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wanted India to attack East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) in April itself, but Manekshaw refused to do so. He told Indira that at this time there would be a danger of losing the battle.
After this he took time from Indira to prepare for the war and started preparing the army for the war. In the end, this war took place in December instead of April and India won.
…when Manekshaw was hit by 7 bullets
During the Second World War, the country was a slave and Indian soldiers also had to fight for the British army. At that time Manekshaw was also on the battlefield against the Japanese army in Burma.
During this war, Manekshaw had 7 bullets in his body and his chances of survival were very less, but doctors operated on him and removed all the bullets and Manekshaw’s life was saved.
Sam Manekshaw was made Field Marshal in 1973, the first military officer in the country to reach this position. He had received many honours. He was also honored with Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 1972.
He moved to Wellington after retiring as Chief of Army Staff in 1973, having died in Wellington in June 2008 at the age of 94.
Other important events that happened on April 03 in the history of the country and the world:
- 2016: West Indies won the ICC T20 World Cup by defeating England at the Eden Gardens ground in Kolkata.
- 2010: Apple launched its first iPad.
- 1999: India launched the first global telecommunication satellite INSAT-1E.
- 1973: The first public mobile telephone call was made from Manhattan’s sidewalk. Martin Cooper of Motorola calls Joel Engel of Bell Labs.
- 1949: The US, Britain, France and Canada signed the North Atlantic Agreement.
- 1942: Japan launched the last round of military action against America in World War II.
- 1933: The plane took off for the first time over Mount Everest.
- 1922: Joseph Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party.
- 1680: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundation of the Maratha Empire, died in Raigad.
- 1325: Nizamuddin Auliya, the fourth saint of the Chishti sect, died.
