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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, Feb 18: Years ago, they walked around the stately buildings and manicured lawns. A last glimpse as they bid farewell to their home for three years and set out on their mission — to defend the independence and honour of the nation.
Today they return to their alma mater. Walk again around those buildings that have waited for them. To welcome them back with pride, as together they celebrate the golden jubilee of this venerated institution — the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla. For 50 years, the academy and its alumni have successfully upheld the tradition of the Indian Armed Forces, protected its spirit. Now is the time to celebrate this success. Today, the very air at the 8,000-odd acre campus is suffused with a spirit of jubilation and festivity, its every nook being sparkled by an extra touch of spit and polish.
The formal celebrations are a three-day affair beginning tomorrow, the highlight being the release of a commemorative stamp and first-day cover by Vice-President Krishan Kant. This follows the inauguration of the annexe to the Hut of Remembrance — the edifice that stands in homage to the martyred soldiers. Also lined up is a PT and equestrian display by the cadets, a show into which has gone over a month’s practice — dawn to dusk.
February 20 is set aside for a son et lumiere show at the Salaria Square in front of the Sudan Block, that will light up to tell the tale of the institution’s 50 years, as scripted by Rear Admiral Govind Singh of the Eastern Command. The final day programme is by the alumni — an equestrian event and a sky-diving demo.
With the top brass led by the three chiefs — General V P Malik, Admiral Sushil Kumar, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis — gracing the occasion along with other serving bigwigs like Lt Gen S Padmanabhan, Lt Gen S S Sangra, Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Air Marshal V Patney, Air Marshal K N Nair, Air Marshal J S Rai, Lt Gen A K Puri and Lt Gen Y K Mehta, this promises to be one high-profile gathering. Not to forget the retired generals, admirals and air marshals like H Moolgavkar, J G Nadkarni, L Ramdas and S K Kaul amongst others.
Men who continue to inspire discipline long after leaving the ranks. In fact, the entire episode is a vital lesson in fostering the spirit of jointmanship that underlines the raison d’etre of the academy. For the impressionable teenagers whose from the front page day seems to be coloured only by restrictions and extra drill at this juncture, this opportunity to interact with their role models in person is invaluable.
For these distinguished seniors too started out here, under the hawk-like eye of their set of saabs, went through the similar pattern of ragda, battled with academic grades… just like those presently in cadet muftis. “The first canter, the swimming sessions, studying for exams under a quilt in lamp light long after lights out…” remembers Lt Gen A K Puri, commandant, CME. Not much has changed since his days in 1957!
As veterans of the first course who joined in January 1949 exchange notes with the lads of 101st course, it’s time for more memories to be created. And talk again of days shared in barracks at Clement Town in Dehra Dun, “when there was nobody to rag us!” as Maj Gen V K Madhok of the first course remembers.
A PoW camp turned into temporary residence for the first 190 cadets, this was the precursor to the NDA, the immediate realisation of Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck’s (commander-in-chief in India in 1940 and 1943) dream of an inter-service academy.
Its genesis dates back to 1941, when the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, received 1,00,000 pounds from the Government of Sudan for building a war memorial to commemorate the gallantry of Indian troops in North Africa. Auchinleck suggested an institute that would combine the tenets of military and academic training to provide the future military leaders.
Significantly, the emphasis was on an integrated system, apprising the cadets at that elementary level of the inter-dependence of the three services. Accordingly, the British Indian Government set up a National War Academy Working Committee on May 2, 1945, that submitted its report a year later.
Though independence saw Auchinleck leave India, the enthusiasm generated by his suggestion did not allow the plan to be shelved. Eventually, the common service training commenced on January 4, 1949, at Clement Town in the form of the Joint Services Wing. October 6 that year saw the foundation stone of the NDA laid by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at Khadakwasla. This was the academy’s permanent home. In December 1954, the whole complex, then under the command of Maj Gen E Habibullah, moved in. The formal inauguration followed on January 16, 1955 by Morarji Desai, the then chief minister of Bombay. Since then, it’s been a long journey. For the institution and all associated. Its alumni have marched to all corners of the country. Been through anti-insurgency operations, skirmishes, ambushes. Now they return home. To walk down those familiar lanes…
