Recalling the memorable experiences with his grandfather, the Field Marshal's grandson Jehan Manekshaw said, "Sam encouraged openness and had no secrets. He made us feel like we could confide in him about anything -- even about our sweethearts. If we did settle into a relationship, it was Sam who would be the first to want to meet them, get to know them and accept them into the family," Jehan, a theatre activist, said at a memorial function for Manekshaw in New Delhi on Tuesday.

At home, he said, Manekshaw was the "farthest thing from being the highest ranking officer in one of the world's largest standing armies. To Raoul, Brandy and me, he was always Sam. Our most amazing, wonderful and loving grandfather".

The fiery war hero also never interfered in his career decisions. "Sam never once in my entire life suggested it (that I should join Army). The army was his ‘profession’, we were expected to decide for ourselves, find our own professions and excel in them. He used to say, 'son you must always work hard and play hard'," Jehan said.

Manekshaw would tell incredible stories to the grandchildren -- not about his heroism but about his growing up in Amritsar and his early days.

He also used to crack jokes and tease the kids as his capacity for fun was "limitless", Jehan said. Apart from the fun, he was a serious grammar teacher who used to check the sentence construction and pronunciation of children at home.

"He brought lessons from his own childhood. He passed it to his daughters, my aunt and my mother. If there was one thing I remember that Sam wanted to share with me in a serious manner, it was this -- the importance of family and loving everyone in your family," Jehan said.