INM MAGAZINE VOLUME 8 | FEBRUARY 2016
#Book Review
Sam Manekshaw was posted in Jammu in 1957 and
the place was then comparatively remote and did not
have facilities for the families of the soldiers to be
accommodated. The soldiers would be at the battle
line, under constant threat, affected by severe cold
and away from their families. Sam would make it a
point to reach out to his men at the border with cakes
he used to bake, used to get those gifts and attended to
everybody's problem personally. Also he would join
them for meals and paid special attention to those
wounded. His genuine concern and his efforts again
reinforced the soldiers' faith in him and kept them
going in tough times.
Learning and conclusion
'Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: The Man and His
Times' has been an inspiring book for the present
generation. Sam's mental strength and discipline are so
articulately brought out through specific episodes in
his life, by the author who worked closely with the
Field Marshall. This well- written biography pays
tribute to a man dedicated to the task of soldiering
with dignity to the nth degree. He has had a huge
impact on people who he came in contact with,
touching their lives in various manners. He has been a
motivation to many and taught that leadership skills
do not have to follow the old conventional ways but
has to be a manifestation of who you are and what
you want to achieve.
His style of leadership can find various applications in
organizations. The real genius of Sam lay in his choice
of field commanders. That is a skill that every manager
must build to spell the difference between success and
failure. Every leader should have the ability to spot
and deploy talent considering their skill set and
usability in the firm. The ability to plan to the nth
degree and simultaneously invest consummate faith in
your people is very important for a leader. Sam
practiced this expertly throughout his career,
especially 1971 war. Corporate leaders need to
carryout detailed and meticulous planning and back
their team fully. Sam excelled in getting ideas from the
rank and file. He would never pull rank on his
subordinates trying to tell him something that was
very different from his own ideas.
It was an enlightening experience for us as we
travelled back in time and read about the legendary
officer. We were spellbound by the sheer mental
strength that the man displayed in crucial times.
Starting our MBA journey in the HR field, we are lucky
to have chosen his biography for this project. At the
core Army is an organization and like any other
organization it requires a leader to be at the helm of
things. We hope we are able to imbibe leaders