Genesis

The origin of IMA was an imperative to 'Home Rule' as envisaged by our national leaders at the turn of the last century. Having proved his worth in the First World War, the Indian soldier earned the right to officer his own army. However, the British were reluctant to set in motion the process Indiansation, as they considered the army synonymous with the 'Raj' due to the lessons learnt after the first war of independence in 1857. As political pressure mounted, the Montague - Chelmsford Committee was set up enabling ten Indians to be trained at Sandhurst. However, the demand for the right to officer our own army gained momentum and the political foundation of IMA was laid on 28 March 1921 when the Legislative Assembly was compelled to adopt a resolution and Indian Military College. The Skeen Committee in 1925 and the First Round Table Conference in London followed this in 1930, which recommended the establishment of an Indian Sandhurst. Accordingly, a committee under the chairmanship of Field Marshal Sir Philp Chetwode, the then C-in-C of India was set up and IMA came in to existence on 01 October 1932 with a batch of 40 Gentleman Cadets.

Inauguration

The first batch known as the "Pioneers", has on its role Sam Manekshaw, Smith Dun and Mohd Musa, all of whom later became Chiefs of the armies of their respective countries. Field marshal Sir Philp Chetwode inaugurated the Academy that was housed in the erstwhile Railway Staff College at Dehradun, in December 1932. As he gave the Academy its immortal credo, he was laying the foundation of great Institution, the crucible of leadership, the nursery of courage and the avail of character building. The valour and wisdom of whose alumni have in become part of folklore, inspiring generations of young men to make even the supreme sacrifice in defence of our national borders. He was indeed, inaugurating a cradle of leaders and heroes from the very first step into Drill Square to the Final Step, until they find immortality in the annals of military history. The Credo he gave to this institution is inscribed in the famous Chetwode Building of IMA and reads: -

"The Safety, Honour and Welfare of your Country come first, always and every time.
The Honour, Welfare and Comfort of the Men you command come next.
Your Own ease, Comfort and Safety come last, always and every time"

The Great Wars

The first few years of the Academy were characterized by a steady growth in infrastructural and training facilities as well as in laying the foundations for its unique customs, values, traditions and ethos. In 1934, even before the First Course had passed out, the King's Colours were presented to the Academy, not as a mark of Royal favour, but as an acknowledgement of common sacrifice and endeavor.

The outbreak of Second World War brought in its wake an unprecedented increase in the intake with a simultaneous reduction in the training period by six months, necessitating large-scale expansion in infrastructural facilities. A measure of the frenetic pace of progress can be gauged from the fact that between December 1934 and May 1941, total of 524 Gentlemen Cadets were commissioned and 3887 cadets were commissioned between August 1941 and January 1946.

The dawn of independence and the pangs of partition that enveloped the country were felt at the Academy too. Brig Thakur Mahadeo Singh, DSO, took over the command of IMA as its first Indian Commandant in free India. The properties of the Academy were divided between Indian and Pakistan. Gentleman Cadets and Staff who opted for Pakistan left on 14 October 1947. However, the fact remains that at least two generations of officers of the Pakistani Army were products of IMA.

1947 - Silver Jubilee (1957)

During the Second World War, the Indian Troops fought gallantly and demonstrated exemplary valour and courage against the Italian Army in Sudan in 1941. During the battle of Keren, a large number of soldiers made the supreme sacrifice and many won gallantry awards, the most notable among them being 2/Lt PS Bhagat, who won the Victoria Cross. In recognition of the services of the Indian Troops, the government of Sudan donated a sum of 1,00,000 Pound Sterling to the Indian Government for the construction of a war memorial in India. This money, however, was used for the creation of Tri-Services Academy, whereby in January 1949, IMA was re-christened as the Armed Forces Academy, with the Military Wing remaining at Premnagar and the Inter-Services Wing established at Clement Town. General Mahadeo Singh road was constructed to link the two Wings. However, in consonance with our national aspirations, IMA was re-designated as National Defence Academy in 1950 and the ISW became the Joint Service Wing (JSW). In December 1954, the JSW moved to Kharakvasla and the IMA - the renamed as Military College, retrieved its original identity and role. On 10 December 1957, the Military College celebrated its Silver Jubilee that was attended by large number of its alumni.

Note: To be Updated...