The legendary Sam Manekshaw is the quintessential Indian soldier with exemplary courage who believed in leading by example, and in a battle with the Japanese during World War II, despite being badly hit with bullets in his belly and lungs, he was able to make the Australian doctor treating him break into a hearty laugh with his humour, says a new book.

In "The Winning Culture: Lessons from the Indian Army to Transform Your Business", Indian Army veteran turned executive performance coach Major Gen (retd) Neeraj Bali provides tips for leaders poised to revolutionise organisational culture and lead their teams to guaranteed wins.

Writing about a few incidents involving India's first field marshal Manekshaw, the author says in 1942, the former's troops were among the force guarding a bridge over the Sittaung river in then Burma.

"In a battle with the Japanese, Manekshaw was hit nine times with bullets in his belly and lungs. Such was his courage - and the imminence of his death - that the British military commander pinned a military cross on a semi-conscious Manekshaw.

But the latter did not fade away, and finally made it on a stretcher to a hospital after 36 hours," the book, published by Pan Macmillan India, says.

There was confusion in the ad hoc facility and, after some effort, Manekshaw's orderly Sher Singh managed to summon an Australian doctor and pointed out the multiple bullet wounds to him.

Eager to keep Manekshaw conscious by engaging in small talk, the doctor asked him what had happened to him.

He replied, "A bloody mule kicked me." The doctor broke into a hearty laugh and said, "I see you have a sense of humour. You might be worth saving!"