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Chennai/New Delhi: Former Indian Army chief Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the architect of India's 1971 military victory over Pakistan, died at Wellington in Tamil Nadu early on Friday after developing acute bronchopneumonia. He was 94.
The end came just after midnight. Manekshaw is survived by his daughters Maja Daruwala and Sherry Batliwala. His wife Siloo passed away in 2001.
He was buried on Friday beside the grave of his wife Siloo here as per his wish.
In a rare gesture, the government decided to accord Sam Bahadur, as he was affectionate called by the troops who served under him, a state funeral, complete with a 21-gun salute.
Tributes poured in soon after news of Manekshaw's death at a military hospital was announced.
"Sam Bahadur was the architect and the inspiring leader of the operations and the consequent military victory in what is now Bangladesh. Military historians will forever record the strategic brilliance and the inspirational leadership of Sam Bahadur," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a condolence message.
"His demise has left behind a void that will be really hard to fill. Field Marshal Manekshaw will be fondly remembered by our armed forces and the nation alike," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in his message.
"Sharp and witty till the end and imbued with an indomitable fighting spirit, he will continue to live on in the minds of committed citizens and will inspire them to take the nation forward," Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major said in his message.
Manekshaw, who became a household name after the 1971 victory led to the creation of Bangladesh, had been hospitalised at Wellington for some time due to a progressive lung disease.
Born on April 3, 1914, Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Mankeshaw was a part of the first batch of officers to be commissioned from the Indian Military Academy in 1934 when the country was still ruled by Britain.
He was the Indian Army chief from 1969 to 1973. He was made field marshal just before retirement in 1973.
Military Cross
He served in Myanmar, then called Burma, during Second World War and was awarded the Military Cross in the battlefield.
He became chief of the Indian army in 1969 and went on to lead troops to victory in a 1971 war against Pakistan that led to the creation of an independent Bangladesh.
He rose to the rank of field marshal in 1973, one of the only two Indian army generals to have risen to that position, the ministry said.
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