The Story of Sam Manekshaw and His Driver

 

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw had a dedicated driver named **Havildar Shyam Singh**, a soldier from Haryana.

As Manekshaw's retirement approached, he noticed Shyam Singh seemed unusually tense and uneasy. When the General asked what was wrong, the driver finally requested a favour: he wanted to take premature retirement from the army.

Manekshaw was surprised and tried to dissuade him, promising to help him get promoted to the rank of Naib Subedar if he continued to serve. However, Shyam Singh was adamant but refused to explain why until his release was approved.

Respecting his driver's wishes, Manekshaw processed his early retirement papers. After the papers came through, the General asked again why he had left service early. Standing at attention, Shyam Singh replied:

"Sir, after being your driver, I cannot drive anyone else in my lifetime. This has been the high point of my life, and I want to go home with this honour."

Manekshaw laughed and called him a "big fool," but the driver's papers had already been finalised.

### The Sealed Envelope

On the day Shyam Singh was leaving, Manekshaw gave him a sealed envelope with strict instructions: **"Shyam Singh, open it only once you reach your home."**

The driver saluted and left. When he reached his village, he got busy with life and forgot about the envelope. He even found a new job driving a freight truck. One day, his wife found the envelope in his old army uniform pocket and asked him to open it. Since he couldn't read or write much, they took it to the village schoolmaster.

The schoolmaster opened the envelope and was stunned. It wasn't a letter of appreciation—it was a **transfer deed for 25 acres of agricultural land**. The Haryana Government had given Manekshaw a "war jagir" (a land grant) for his victory in the 1971 war, and he had gifted it to his driver.

### Aftermath

Shyam Singh's wife was furious with him for almost burning the envelope, but they were now the owners of 25 acres of land. The story is often shared as a testament to Manekshaw's greatness, not just as a military leader, but as an exceptionally generous and humane person.

Poetic stanzas capturing the essence of that beautiful story:

The driver held the wheel with pride, 

For decades, side by side, 

He served the great Sam Bahadur's call, 

The finest general of them all. 

 

But when the day of leave drew near, 

The driver's heart was choked with fear— 

"Forgive me, sir, I must resign, 

No other master's car is mine." 

The old Field Marshal smiled and sighed, 

And let his loyal man abide, 

Then gave a seal—"Don't break this fast, 

Not till your home is reached at last." 

 

At home, the village master read 

The gift that left the driver's head 

In awe—not words, but fertile ground, 

A hero's heart, so vast, unbound.