Who Was Siloo Manekshaw? Wiki, Age, Kids, Death, Family & Facts About Sam Manekshaws Wife

Siloo Manekshaw was an Indian artist and painter who is best known for being the wife of the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the highest rank and the hero of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. She was born as Silloo Bode in Amritsar, Punjab, in 1911, and died of lung cancer in Tamil Nadu, India, in 2001, at the age of 90.

She was a woman of many talents and interests, who supported her husband’s illustrious military career and also contributed to the social welfare of the local community in Coonoor, where they settled after retirement.

Early Life and Education

Siloo Bode was born in a Parsi Zoroastrian family in Amritsar, Punjab, in 1911. She had a sister and three brothers, who were all engineers or doctors. She completed her graduation from Elphinstone College, Mumbai, and then pursued higher education at Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, where she developed her skills as an artist and painter. She was also fond of reading, traveling, and social work.

Siloo Manekshaw Wiki/Bio

Marriage and Family

In 1937, during a social event in Lahore, Siloo Bode met Sam Manekshaw, who was then a young officer in the British Indian Army. They fell in love and got married on 22 April 1939, despite the opposition from their families. Siloo Manekshaw was both an ardent supporter and a harsh critic of her husband, who rose through the ranks and became the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army in 1969.

She would remind him of his humble origins and keep him grounded, while also encouraging him to pursue his ambitions and goals. She was also a loving mother to their two daughters, Sherry Batliwala and Maja Daruwala, who followed their careers as a corporate employee and a human rights advocate, respectively.

Military Life and Social Work

As an Army officer’s wife, Siloo Manekshaw accompanied her husband to various postings and assignments across the country and abroad. She witnessed the tumultuous events of the Partition of India, World War II, the Sino-Indian War, the Indo-Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971, and the creation of Bangladesh. She also faced many challenges and hardships, such as living in tents, moving frequently, and coping with the absence and danger of her husband. She was proud of her husband’s achievements and sacrifices and also shared his sense of humor and wit.

Siloo was also actively involved in the welfare of the local community in Coonoor, a hill station in Tamil Nadu, where they retired in 1973. She founded a charitable clinic for the poor and elderly and ran it herself. She also directed many theatre plays at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and sold her paintings to raise funds for various causes. She was an avid reader, a talented painter, and an intelligent conversationalist, who enjoyed the company of her friends and family.

Physical Appearance

Net Worth & Income Sources

There is no official or verified information about Manekshaw’s net worth or income sources. Based on these facts, we can assume that Manekshaw had a comfortable and decent lifestyle, but not a lavish one. She did not have any major source of income, apart from her husband’s pension and the occasional sale of her paintings.

She also spent a lot of money on charity and social work. Therefore, her net worth would not be very high, but neither would it be very low. A rough estimate would be somewhere between $100,000 to $500,000 at the time of her death.

Death and Legacy

Siloo Manekshaw died of lung cancer on 13 February 2001, in Tamil Nadu, India. She was buried at the Parsi Zoroastrian Cemetery in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India, next to her husband, who died in 2008. She is remembered as a remarkable woman, who lived a full and rich life, and who stood by her husband’s side through thick and thin. She is also admired for her artistic and social contributions and her graceful and dignified personality.

Nationality, Caste & Religion

Siloo was an Indian by nationality, a Parsi by caste, and a Zoroastrian by religion.

Documentary: Sam Bahadur

The movie ‘Sam Bahadur’, starring Vicky Kaushal as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, is a biographical drama directed by Meghna Gulzar. The film explores the life and career of one of the most celebrated and respected military leaders in Indian history. 

The film was released in theatres on December 1, 2023, and had a successful run at the box office. It is now set to release on the popular OTT platform, Zee5, on January 26, 2024.

Controversies

Siloo Manekshaw was not directly involved in any major controversies, but she was affected by some of the controversies that surrounded her husband. Some of them are:

• During his time in the Army, Manekshaw was often a victim of controversies. He easily trusted others and believed people when they were nice to him. This made him vulnerable to manipulation and betrayal by some of his colleagues and superiors. He also objected to the political interference with the army and spoke his mind openly, which sometimes offended or angered the authorities. He was accused of being anti-national, insubordinate, and corrupt by some of his detractors. He faced several inquiries and disciplinary actions, but he always managed to prove his innocence and integrity.

Manekshaw and her husband, Sam Manekshaw, were often seen attending Bollywood parties in the 1950s. They were friends with many celebrities, such as Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Dilip Kumar, and Dev Anand. Manekshaw had a sister, who used to live in Lahore, Pakistan, and her brother-in-law was a doctor in the British Indian Army. During the Partition of India, her sister and her family migrated to India, with the help of Sam Manekshaw, who arranged for their safe passage.

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