Manekshaw vs Sarin

Its only a man of Manekshaw's stature who could keep babus in their place.  He called babus as Munshis, politicians as Dhotiwalas and Mrs. Indira Gandhi (in private) "Sweaty".  Had we more such Chiefs in office, we wouldn't be going through the turmoil as at present.

Veteran Ram Gulrajani

*****

I don’t know if its true, but nevertheless... On a rather warm day the Defence Secretary, Harish Sarin, a very powerful civil servant, upon entering the Ministry’s conference room said to a Colonel sitting close to a   window, “You there, open that window!” Before the Colonel could get up came a sharp “Sit down” from Manekshaw, who had also just entered from another door.  Turning to the Secretary, he said, “Mr. Secretary, don’t you ever address one of my officers in that tone of voice. You may say, “Sam, would you please open that window, and I will open the window for you.  That officer is a Colonel, and not ‘You there’. ”Harish Sarin mumbled something to the effect that he didn’t mean it that way, to which Sam replied, ”I don’t care what you meant. I heard it & didn’t like it". ***** Professional Competence. Once a defence secretary made an observation on the note written by Manekshaw for the PM and the Defence Minister. He walked straight into Mrs Gandhi’s office. He politely told her that if she found the defence secretary more competent than him on military matters, then she did not have a need for him. The defence secretary was given a new job."