The mellow month of October is indeed very special in the history of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) which is not just the pride of the Doon valley but of the entire nation.
The IMA saga which began in the Doon valley on October 1, 1932 (when the academy became functioning) at a picturesque location in the Doon valley , has moved through several dramatic twists and turns, touching many landmarks over the last eight decades. It is being carried forward proudly by bright young Gentlemen Cadets (GCs ) who enter the hallowed portals of the academy every year and pass out as officers of the great Indian Army, one of the best in the world.
All of the first batch (“Pioneers” ) of GCs, Sam Manekshaw among them, reported for duty on September 30, 1932.The seniormost cadet was GS Isaac whose number was 1 and the last was Shingar Singh, No. 40. The Commandant’s “Special Order of the Day” was published on October 1 and it said.” The Indian Military Academy opens with effect from today. The first Commandant, Brig l P Collins, on the occasion of the opening of the Indian Military Academy, wishes to place on record his deep sense of appreciation of the labours of his staff in the preliminary work of the Academy. He is confident that on this foundation and with the loyal co-operation of the Gentlemen Cadets who have joined in the first term the foundations of the name and the traditions of the Academy will be firmly established.”
The founding of this prestigious academy in 1932 was a culmination of a long- drawn battle fought in the Central legislative Assembly and the Round Table Conference by stalwarts like Sir Sivaswamy Aiyar, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pandit Motilal Nehru and lala lajpat Rai. The history of the IMA from 1932 to 1947 is common to India and Pakistan.
According to legend, Dehra Dun was the site of the academy of the great warrior Dronacharya where the Pandavas, Kauravas and other princes had been trained. The Chetwode Committee had recommended three places –Satara, Mhow and Dehra Dun with the accent falling on Dehra Dun. And Dehra Dun was selected by the government.
The Railway Staff College had been opened in Doon in 1930 next to the Forest Research Institute but had to be closed down owing to a financial crisis. It had an imposing central building (the present Chetwode building of IMA), a number of staff quarters, and a block of building for railway trainees to live in. The Army acquired the buildings and campus of the staff college, spread over an area of 155.53 acres of land for a price of Rs 21,17,597. The campus was taken over on April 1, 1932.
There were no playing fields, no drill square and no building for setting up a mess. It was indeed a challenging task to lay the foundations and to shape a permanent military academy , India’s Sandhurst. However, under the leadership of Brig Collins, the institution became functional by October 1, 1932. The first course had on its rolls Sam Manekshaw, Smith Dun and Mohd Musa. All of them later became the chiefs of the armies of their respective countries; namely India, Burma and Pakistan. The course was christened “PIONEERS'.
The IMA was inaugurated formally by Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode on December 10, 1932 after whom is named the “Chetwode Building” of the IMA, which is the academy’s heart and soul. The inaugural address by Chetwode was stirring and acquired immortality as a passage from his address has been adopted as the Credo of the Academy -"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 inauguration had to be delayed by more than two months . Chetwode said in his speech at the inauguration, "I wish I could have welcomed the Gentlemen Cadets of the new Indian Military Academy on the day they first made their appearance here, for it was a memorable day in the History of Indian Army. I could not do so because it was pointed out to me that they had not yet received their uniform, nor were they sufficiently drilled to make an inspection on parade possible.” The Pioneer, dated July 30,1931, under the caption "Notes from Dehra Dun" wrote, "His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief was here for a few days last week, from July 14 to 17.He was probably here in connection with the Indian Military Academy,which has only a couple of months ahead of it now before opening."