Field Marshal Sam Manek Shaw - biography by Sri N.Vijayaraghavan

To be frank, I was not even aware of this book. A well intentioned good friend gifted it to me. And I took unduly long time to complete reading this. Partly because I was multi reading (as legendary writer Sujata would recommend)- an amazing Musings by Cho , which is prophetic and highly relevant today, few relegioua literature et al. And I carry a record for never finishing reading any book to the end.
This was a different experience.
FM Sàm Maneckshaw was always an iconic figure to many of my generation who were euphoric about the 71 war victory. Remember, as a high school student, collecting donations in a Kitty bank for Defence Fund. As a nation,we were really united. Nostalgia sinks in.
"Painstaking effort by the author" - will be a gross understatement.
He has dug deep. To bring about all known and more of less known facets of the warrior 's rich and fecund life. Micro details,not easily available to even a Google search.And presented the viswaroopam of the subject in all the splendor he deserves.
His career a defaulted choice ,his guts, his moral courage, his unrelenting zeal for professionalism, his quick wit, all of them with lively anecdotes. And the author takes you on virtual tour with Sam sitting beside you. Beyond doubt extensive research only can produce such treatise.
Though the prma donna is Sam, the author has created an exhaustive documentary around Defence Services, touching upon all 360 degrees. History- local and global, political entanglement, geo strategic compulsions, exemplary acts of valour by front line personnel, technical minutiae of armaments and so on. All supported by an amazing extent of  authentic references.

The style is both descriptive as well as anecdotal. Conversational in essence. Which perhaps helps in ridding of potential ennui which can kick in such a vast text.


Can easily provide base for a screenplay for biopic in this adorable veteran. A la the
 " Desert Fox"..on Rommel.

The only suggestion I would put forward for reprints this monumental work is that there are numerous typos, particularly in the latter chapters ,which even a Spell Check app can easily eradicate.

Certainly a volume to be condensed and prescribed for Non detailed study in all school curriculum.

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