Antony, army chief pay tribute to Field Marshal Maneckshaw on his 98th birth anniversary

Ooty (Tamil Nadu), Apr.3 (ANI): Defence Minister A. K. Antony and Chief of Army Staff General V. K. Singh paid tribute and laid wreaths at the cemetery of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw on his 98th birth anniversary on Tuesday.

In his tribute, Antony described Field Marshal Maneckshaw as an inspiration to generations of armed forces. He said the nation could never forget his contribution, particularly his role in 1971 India-Pakistan War that led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

Earlier, Antony and General Singh laid wreaths on Field Marshal's new gravestone and attended a prayer and military memorial service.

Army chief designate and General Officer Commanding-in -Chief Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh and other senior army officials were also present.

Mankeshaw's two daughters were also present.

Apart from the wreath laying ceremony, there was a traditional presentation of arms by the special guards of the Madras Regimental Centre and the sounding of the Last Post after the observance of a two-minute of silence.

On his retirement from the army in January 1973, Field Marshal Manekshaw settled down in Coonoor, where he had served as commandant of the Defence Services Staff College. He passed away at the age of 94 in 2008 and was laid to rest in the nearby Parsee Zoroastrian Cemetery in Ooty.

Manekshaw was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1968 and the Padma Vibhushan after the 1971 India-Pakistan War. (ANI)