Page 296 - Leadership in the Indian Army

Sagat was a soldier, but like everyone else he also had his foibles. One of
these was his proclivity for affaires de coeur. A burly six-foot-two, he was a
handsome man in his prime and women found him irresistible. There are

many stories about his peccadilloes, not all of which are true. But even if
they were, they never affected his performance as a combat leader. In any
case, he is in honourable company: Caesar, Napoleon, Nelson, and
Wellington, all had the same weakness. In his book, On the Psychology of
Military Incompetence , Norman Dixon writes: ‘He (Wellington) shared
with Nelson a predilection for the fairer sex, which could on occasion invite
some fairly adverse comments from his contemporaries.’ The views of Sam

Manekshaw, India’s most popular military leader, on this subject are well
known.
Sagat was a commander who led from the front. He epitomises the
traditional image of the military leader who fights and leads by example. If
he had been born a few centuries earlier, or in America or Europe, and had
been given the opportunity to operate on a larger canvas, he would perhaps

have been one of the Great Captains of War. Unfortunately, the nation did
not recognise his talents or value his contribution, and lesser mortals were
given the rewards that he deserved. However, for those who knew him
intimately, or have had the fortune to serve under him, Sagat Singh was the
type of military leader whom soldiers follow willingly and give their lives
for.

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* Khud , loosely translated, means a valley or steep incline; a khud race is a cross-country race
across hills and valleys.