"I offer my deep condolences to the people of India, on the passing of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. He was a legendary soldier, a patriot, and an inspiration to his fellow citizens," the 47-year-old leader said.
The former army chief provided an example of personal bravery, self-sacrifice, and steadfast devotion to duty that began before India's independence, and will deservedly be remembered far into the future, Obama, also a senator from Illinois, said in a statement on his website.
Manekshaw, 94, who crafted India's military victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war that led to emergence of Bangladesh, died on Friday.