AFVOA Newletters of Year 2003

Page 41 of 170 now in a much depleted strength owing to the casualties suffered in earlier attacks. But the post held out till the ammunition lasted. When it was finally overrun by the Chinese, he jumped out of his trench and killed many intruders in hand-to-hand fighting. It was originally thought that he was eventually overpowered and killed. His cool courage, conspicuous fighting qualities and leadership were in the highest traditions of the Army. As Major Thapa was believed to have been killed in this engagement, the original citation read as his having died in action. He was later discovered to have been taken prisoner by Chinese soldiers and after his release from the POW camp, he resumed his military career. For his gallant act, Major Dhan Singh Thapa was honoured with the highest wartime gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra. Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw , India’s first and only living field marshal, celebrated his 89 th birthday in New Delhi on Thursday the 3 rd April.. Manekshaw, his legendary wit and charm intact, cut his birthday cake with a silver khukri, the favourite dagger of the legendary Gurkha soldiers, as the large gathering sang Happy Birthday to You. The hero of the 1971 war with Pakistan, which resulted in the birth of Bangladesh, made no speech at the evening function organised by the Parzor Foundation, a UNESCO- supported initiative for the preservation and promotion of Parsi Zoroastrian culture and heritage. Fernandes – the Defence Minister pointed out that Manekshaw “not only created history, but also created a nation.” Manekshaw, who almost lost his life during World War II in Burma and won a Military Cross for bravery, was the first Indian officer to command the Gurkhas after Independence. In 1962, in the midst of the humiliating defeat against China, Manekshaw took over the Tezpur-based 4 Corps and famously told his troops, ‘Gentlemen, there will be no more withdrawals.’ In 1971, he prevailed upon Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to give him six months to wait out the monsoon and prepare for the invasion of East Pakistan, bulldozed the finance ministry to give the military extra funds, and skipped major cities to take Dacca and create Bangladesh. Despite his age, Manekshaw did not disappoint Delhi on this visit. While at the Battle Honours Mess, he was at his witty best as he quipped, “Officers, you have kept up the great tradition of the India Army… [ pause ] of having beautiful wives.” When the wife of a former army chief asked Manekshaw how he managed to remember the first names of most army wives, the field marshal remarked there are two things no honourable man should forget: His wife’s birthday and the first name of the women around.