Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw was born on April 3, 1914. Popularly referred to as Sam Bahadur, he began his military career in the British Indian Army in World War II. During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, he was the Chief of Army Staff, whose strategic brilliance and exemplary leadership are often considered to be deciding factors in the outcome of the conflict.
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Sam Manekshaw went on to become the first Field Marshal of India, which is the highest attainable rank in the Indian Army. The larger-than-life character was the subject of a 2023 biographical film, where he was portrayed by Vicky Kaushal. The Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhusan awardee passed away at the age of 94 on June 27, 2008.
Manekshaw knew his way around words as much as he did around battlefields. To commemorate his birthday, the quote of the day is his famous saying:
“A Yes Man is a dangerous man. He is a menace. He will go very far. He can become a minister, a secretary or a Field Marshall, but he can never become a leader, nor ever be respected. He will be used by his superiors, disliked by his colleagues and despised by his subordinates. So, discard the Yes Man.”
What does Sam Manekshaw’s quote mean?
Renowned for his biting repartees, Sam Manekshaw’s quote highlights a problem that has plagued bureaucracy and professionalism since time immemorial. A “Yes Man” is someone who blindly follows the leadership of authority figures without ever questioning them.
Obedience without critique is dangerous to the person who is being led, since they would have no idea where they are headed, and before long, their faculties of critique would also be rusted with disuse. Without them, he might make progress in his field, but he will never possess the capacity to become a leader himself, nor will he earn the respect of those around him.
Simultaneously, “Yes Men” are also bad for leaders themselves, as they need the truth to help them lead the way, not flattery. By surrounding themselves with “Yes Men,” leaders can protect and inflate their egos. However, it is bound to destroy their judgment and in the long run, erode the trust of people in them.
Why is Sam Manekshaw’s quote relevant today?
The modern world is one that is shaped by narratives. If any information is not an advertisement, it is propaganda. What is more troubling is the fact that leaders themselves often fall into the trap of their own propaganda and start to lose track of reality.
Inflated egos that are carefully nurtured in their own bubbles have started many conflicts. And the greater number of people being blind followers of such leaders and climbing the ladder of power has created a dearth of leadership material in the upper echelons.
Thus, Sam Bahadur’s words ring true and loud today, and it would likely do well for both the leaders and ordinary people around the globe to pay heed to them.
