How Yahya Khan 'exchanged' Bangladesh for a 1000 rupee bike

New Delhi, Jun 27 (UNI) Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, who died early today at the Wellington Military Hospital after prolonged illness, had sold a James motorcycle to his junior Yahya Khan for which he never got the money.

But years later, Sam Bhahdur, as he was popularly called, claimed that ''Yahya -- who rose to become the President of Pakistan -- made up for it by giving me the whole of East Pakistan!'' Hormazd Sorabjee of ''Autocar India'' had interviewed the Field Marshal at his home in Coonoor, near Ooty, Nilgiris.

Sam, who loved bikes and cars, had this interesting anecdote for Sorabjee: He had bought a James motorcycle from a British Officer for Rs 1,600 in 1947. Just two days before partition, his good friend Major Yahya Khan, who went on to become President of Pakistan, begged Manekshaw to sell him the bike. ''What will I use?'' asked Manekshaw. To which Yahya replied, ''Sir, you will get everything in India, we will get nothing in Pakistan.'' Manekshaw agreed to sell the bike for Rs 1000 and said, ''Okay, Yahya take it!'' Yahya looked at his superior and said, ''Sir, I haven't got a thousand. I will send it to you.'' Manekshaw was never paid the Rs 1000 but said ''Yahya made up for it by giving me the whole of East Pakistan!'' Sorabjee, who had interviewed Manekshaw on his 'Sunbeam Repear' car had mentioned the Yahya Khan tale in his article.

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