If Sam Manekshaw had not been there, Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Khan could have lost their lives on their wedding day
Today is the birthday of well-known Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore. Today Sharmila is celebrating her 79th birthday. Do you know that Manek Shan, whose story has recently been shown in the film Sam Bahadur, has an important place in Sharmila’s life. Or we can say that if Sam Manshaw had been there, a big accident would have happened. The lives of Sharmila and her husband Nawab and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan were in danger. Let us know what happened after all.
Let us tell you that Sharmila Tagore was a Hindu and her husband was a Muslim. Both were in love and wanted to marry each other. But there was a lot of uproar on this matter and Sharmila and her husband also started receiving death threats. But even after the uproar, Sharmila married Mansoor Ali Khan on December 27, 1969 and accepted Islam and became Ayesha Sultana. To ensure that no one’s life is in danger at their wedding, the wedding location was also changed for security reasons. But still the lives of Sharmila and Mansoor were at risk.
Chaos in the marriage of Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Khan
The marriage of Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan took place in Fort William, Kolkata and the reception continued till late evening. There were very bad conditions in Bengal at that time. Amid protests everywhere, the fire of communalism began to flare up. There was a fear in my mind that the flames of this fire might become brighter and engulf the lives of the new bride and groom and their family.
Sam Manekshaw’s car becomes protective shield
There was a wedding atmosphere inside and outside, demonstrations, ruckus and fear intensified against this marriage. The family was worried as to how Sharmila and Mansoor would get out of there. But then suddenly an Austin Sheerline car arrived to pick up the newly married couple Sharmila and Mansoor. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on that car. Then people also understood whose car it was and now no one can fire at it. Because everyone knew that this car belonged to Sam Manekshaw, who was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command of the Army at that time.
Sam Manekshaw saved his life
It is said that seeing the situation at that time, Sam Manekshaw had sent his car to help Sharmila Tagore and the Nawab of Patodi. In those days Sheerline was quite famous in Kolkata and could easily travel all over Kolkata. Sharmila and her husband Mansoor Khan were safely evacuated from Fort William in that car of Sam Manekshaw. That day Sam Manekshaw had saved both of their lives.
