Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw also called Sam Bahadur (or Sam the Brave) was arguably India greatest general. He was the Chief of Army Staff for the Indian Army during the Bangladesh war in 1971. This incident happened three decades before that war. The year – 1942, The Location – the forests of Burma. This was before the second world war and the British Indian Army was fighting the Japanese incursion. Sam Manekshaw was leading the Sikh Regiment, one of the more feared regiments of the British Indian Army. There had been a lot of casualties and some promotions had to be made to fill those positions. One of the persons in in the regiment was Sohan Singh. A well-built burly guy 6 ft 4. All muscles. Sohan Singh had been promoted a few times before from Sepoy to Lance Naik to Naik. But in Sam Manekshaw’s words he was a “badmash” i.e. “Mischievous” and so almost every time he was promoted, he was also “broken” the army term those days for being demoted. So, during this promotion meeting when Sohan Singh’s name came up, Sam Manekshaw said “Nah! No point promoting him. He will be broken in no time”. Hence, when the list was put up that evening Sohan Singh’s name was not on that list. After the meeting Sam Manekshaw returned to his camp or “Basha” in the forests of Burma. Upon returning he was met by Senior Subedar Balwant Singh. Balwant Singh looked terribly worried. As soon as he saw Sam Manekshaw he said “Saab Sohan Singh ko kaid Kar Diya” (Sir, Sohan Singh has been arrested). Maneckshaw said “Kyun, kya hua?” (Why, What happened?) Balwant Singh replied “Saab, usne bola ki aapko goli marega” (Sir, he said he will shoot you). Sam Manekshaw said “Accha. Sohan Singh Peshi ho” (Really. Bring Sohan Singh here.) A table and stool were put up and Sohan Singh was marched up and his charge sheet was read out. Sohan Singh said “Saab galti ho gaya, maafi kardo.” (Sir, I made a mistake, forgive me.) Now, Sohan Singh was a light machine gunner and light machine gunners those days carried a service revolver. This revolver was obviously taken away from him when he was arrested. Sam Manekshaw took the revolver, loaded it, removed the safety lock and handed it over to Sohan Singh and said “Tumne bola tum hamme goli marega? Sohan Singh tera dil hai marneka? Maro” (You said you will shoot me? Sohan Singh do you wish to kill me? Then kill me). Sohan Singh pleaded “Nahi Saab, galti ho gaya” (No sir, I made a mistake). Sam Manekshaw gave him a tight slap and said “Agar tum kuch kar nahi sakte ho to bolna mat” (If you can’t do something then don’t say it). Case dismissed. He then ordered Sohan Singh to be released. He then washed up, went to the mess for dinner and everyone in there seemed to be afraid. When Sam Manekshaw returned to his basha he again met a very worried Subedar Balwant Singh. Balwant Singh said “Saab who aaj raat ko aapko goli marega” (Sir he will shoot you tonight). Sam Manekshaw called out. “Sohan Singh kidhar hai” (Where is Sohan Singh?). When Sohan Singh arrived, he said “Sohan Singh aaj rat mere basha par tum sentry hoga. Kal subbe 5 Baje ek magga chai our ek magga garam pani dadhi bananeke liye. Koi Shak?” (Sohan Singh, Tonight you will guard my basha. Tomorrow morning at 5 AM you will bring one mug of tea and and one mug of hot water to shave. Any doubts?) Sohan Singh said “Be shak” (No Doubts). “Bhago” (Run). Next day morning at 5 AM Sohan Singh woke up Sam Manekshaw with a mug of tea and a mug of hot water and for the rest of the conflict Sohan Singh followed him like a lamb. In a speech many decades later as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw reminisced about the incident he said “Ladies and gentlemen, if you think I wasn’t frightened, you are mistaken. I was terrified. But if I hadn’t done that and if I had put Sohan Singh in the clink then the rest of the company would have said “Dekha Saab darta hai” (See Boss is scared). Courage is essential to leadership. What a courageous story! Business Points ( Tags ) #storytelling #business #bestseller #stories #Fear #motivation #fearlessness #Leadershipvalues #Leader #Fearless #army #Truetoyourword
