Meet The Women Who Powered Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw's Life

Meghna Gulzar's Sam Bahadur, a biographical film centred around the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, featured Vicky Kaushal as the lead character. Renowned by the moniker 'Sam Bahadur,' Manekshaw dedicated over four decades of his life to the Indian armed forces. He participated valiantly in five significant wars, encompassing World War II (1942), the Indo-Pak War (1965), the Indo-Pak Partition War (1947), the Sino-Indian War (1962), and the War of Bangladesh Liberation (1971).

Meghna Gulzar, Vicky Kaushal Pay Tribute to Field Marshal Manekshaw

On June 27, the 16th death anniversary of Manekshaw, filmmaker Gulzar and Kaushal visited his cemetery to pay homage and honour his memory, reflecting on his legacy and contributions. Gulzar posted the picture on her Instagram and wrote, “A Life Well Lived.Field Marshal Sam HFJ Manekshaw ♾️”

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Having narrowly escaped death on numerous occasions during his service, he received several prestigious accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and a Military Cross for his gallantry during World War II. He also held the distinction of being the first army official to attain the rank of Field Marshal.

Sam Manekshaw's life, as portrayed in the film, offers a glimpse into his personal and professional spheres. Here's a closer look at the impact of his family, particularly the three women, and their significant role in shaping Sam's life.

Manekshaw's Marriage to Silloo Bode

Manekshaw entered into marriage with Siloo Bode on April 22, 1939, in Bombay. Sanya Malhotra portrays the character of Silloo, Sam's spouse, in the film. Although little is known about Silloo in real life, the couple had two daughters, Sherry and Maya (later known as Maja), born in 1940 and 1945, respectively.

Manekshaw's younger daughter, Maja Daruwala in an interview revealed Manekshaw was a spirited young captain at the time, wed Silloo Bode in 1939. They met at a dinner party in Lahore, where he captured her attention. She was visiting her sister and brother-in-law, a doctor in the British Indian army. Daruwala stated that Manekshaw often acknowledged that Silloo served as both his fervent supporter and his toughest critic. She provided him with unwavering support while also ensuring he remained grounded. 

Silloo's Role and Influence in Manekshaw's Life

According to Sherry, she would remind him about his middle-class origins in Amritsar, despite his charm and good looks. She added how Silloo cautioned him that although he might be revered as a field marshal or a company director, he could easily be overlooked tomorrow. This advice served to maintain his focus.

Manekshaw's Family Dynamics

Maja reflected on their family dynamics, emphasising the absence of power struggles or adherence to traditional gender roles. According to Maja, a lawyer and human rights advocate, their home didn't impose any cooking obligations on her mother, despite being at home. During Manekshaw's tenure at the Imperial Defence College in London in 1957, he took charge of household cooking, which Maja recalls without ever showing it as a mundane task. She mentioned that despite her selective eating habits, her father adeptly prepared meals like chhole bhature, kheema pao, makki di roti, sarson ka saag, and bhuna chana soup for the family.

Maja highlighted her father's leniency, mentioning that during holidays, he permitted them to sleep until 10 am, preferring to have breakfast together but never imposing his military discipline. Additionally, Manekshaw didn't impose his hobbies, such as fishing and photography, on his family, even though he possessed top-notch equipment. However, they often became unwitting subjects of his experimental endeavours.

The daughter added that the household often engaged in playful banter, primarily directed towards Manekshaw by the three women.

Maja's Thoughts on Sam Bahadur 

Maja has watched Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur. While talking to The Indian Express, she revealed that she has watched it twice. She said, "They have made the film to make the country proud of whatever it was. But, the time that I tear up, every time, I’ve seen the film twice now and I teared up both times, is the last two seconds of the film when you turn to the audience and you’re smiling. That just kills me every time." 

Hear it from Maya Manekshaw herself 🥹#SamBahadur #VickyKaushal https://t.co/k2OpHYMdYb pic.twitter.com/JGDu0FJ1ks

— ⚡ (@haayerebijli) November 27, 2023