Remembering a hero: Gen. Vaidya

In the b/w pic, take a look at the guy standing on the extreme right. That is Second Lieutenant Arun Shridhar Vaidya. The pic was taken during Operation Polo in Hyderabad, a lifetime away from Operation Blue Star - an operation that would change the course of Vaidya's life (literally so). Vaidya - later General and Chief of Army Staff - was an accomplished soldier long before Blue Star. He won a Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) as the Commandant of an armoured regiment during 1965 and won another MVC during 1971 - this time as Commander of 16 (Indep) Armoured Brigade. The b/w pic shows a young, enthusiastic officer - the other pic - of a grave general - is an interesting contrast.

Field Marshal Manekshaw: An Anecdote

Press Trust of India; Tuesday, July 1, 2008 (London)

A British journalist, who was based in New Delhi and covered India-Pakistan war, remembers late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw as his favourite military leader.''I have cherished the memory of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw as my favourite military leader ever since reporting on the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971,'' said Harold Jackson, who was The Guardian's correspondent based in New Delhi during the 1971 war.Jackson, who reported the Indo-Pak war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh, recalled his association with Manekshaw following his death last week.

''The military hazards in Kashmir and East Pakistan turned out to be child's play compared with my grim battles against Indian bureaucrats in New Delhi and their Bengali brothers in Dhaka: by the time I flew back to Delhi, they had almost reduced me to a gibbering wreck,'' he said.''I arrived just in time to hear rumours that the Pakistan army had surrendered - unfortunately accompanied by one of Delhi's power cuts.''The defence ministry phones were all engaged. In desperation, I rang the chief of staff's direct line,'' he recalled. 'Manekshaw here', came the reply from other side. '''Harold Jackson of the Guardian. Nobody here seems sure if you've won the war or not.''' Jackson said.'''Oh yes, we've won all right. General Niazi signed the surrender at 4.31 this afternoon. Is that all? Anything else I can help you with? No. Well I'm afraid I'm rather busy just now. All the best.' Manekshaw replied.

''He was one of a kind'', he said.