Why Indian Army should be indebted to this IMA batch from 70 years back

The surviving veterans of the New Delhi chapter of the Indian Army gathered at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on August 8, 2016 to commemorate the start of their training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun on this day 70 years ago.

In August 8, 1946, 249 bright young men reported at the academy, brimming with confidence and hope. After the end of Second World War in 1945, India had been granted independence, following hundreds of years of foreign rule. So these were to be the leaders of a free India and were fired with patriotic zeal.

Halfway through the course, 45 Pakistani cadets left on October 14, 1947. Hence the course concluded on December 21, 1947 with 189 Indian gentlemen cadets being commissioned as Second Lieutenants during a sparkling passing out parade, for the first time under the tricolour of independent India, instead of the Union Jack of Great Britain. To make the occasion truly memorable, the salute at the passing out parade was taken by Sardar Baldev Singh, the first defence minister of free India.

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The commissioning of this batch of cadets, (christened as the Second Regular Course IMA) coincided with the division of the erstwhile centuries-old proud British Indian Army and the birth of the Indian Army of independent India. These young men were to lead the regiments and units of the new Army to victory through four wars against Pakistan and a number of insurgencies.

Momentous changes were afoot as there was a major restructuring of the Army. The Indian Army was born from the erstwhile British Indian Army which was further split on the basis of two-third-to-one-third into the armies of India and Pakistan.

The very structure of the British Indian Army was undergoing major changes. Since the Revolt of 1857, the British Indian Army had been restructured from one class regiments to mixed regiments with half of each unit comprised of Muslims and the other half non-Muslims.

Also read: On Kargil Vijay Diwas, India must resolve to give her soldiers their due Now these mixed units were to be unravelled all over again as the Muslim components were to go to Pakistan whereas the non-Muslim components were to remain in India. There were heart-wrenching scenes of tearful goodbye between comrades who had lived and fought together through countless wars on the Indian soil as also in the Middle East and Europe as Indians without the taint of religious bigotry.

The officer cadre was likewise sundered with Muslim officers going to Pakistan and non-Muslim officers remaining in India, though the officers were given a modicum of choice through a complex system of exercising an option: non-Muslim officers who happened to be in Pakistan after the Partition could opt to remain in Pakistan and Muslim officers stationed in India could opt to stay in India.

The assets of the erstwhile Indian Army, comprising centres and stores in the depots scattered in India were to be a divided on a one-third-to-two-third basis, an herculean task. So it was decided that a lump sum payment of Rs 75 crore would be made by India to Pakistan. Apparently, Rs 20 crore was actually paid, but the remainder got stuck as Pakistan launched an offensive to capture Kashmir and it was considered that any further payment would amount to augmenting Pakistan's military capacity.

The Partition also brought about a major change for the Gorkha troops serving in the British Indian Army, though they were secluded from the rest of the Army and were exclusively officered by the British. Now ten regiments of these legendary troops were to be split, with six regiments being retained as part of the new Indian Army and four regiments to be absorbed in the British Army.

This meant that the Nepal government would agree to its troops serving in the Indian Army. The arrangement was formalised by concluding the Britain-Nepal-India Tripartite Agreement in 1947 with India vouchsafing the interests of the Gorkha troops including a clause stipulating that they were not to be considered mercenaries but have the status of regular troops. This was an opportunity for a large number of the newly commissioned officers who were posted to the Gorkha regiments. It is matter of credit and pride that these young officers rose to the occasion and gave an excellent account of themselves.

The large number of Gorkhas serving in the Indian Army have forged links of loyalty and mutual respect. As of now, more than 30,000 Gorkhas are serving in the Indian Army. Besides their earning while in service, large amounts are disbursed in Nepal by way of pensions to the ever-increasing number of ex-soldiers and widows and that is a positive element in the India-Nepal relations.

Indeed, in every respect, this batch of newly commissioned officers set very high standards of achievement, with 12 of them attaining the ranks of Lieutenant General (including five achieving the rank of Army Commander), 20 becoming Major Generals, 26 Brigadiers, 25 Colonels and 45 Lieutenant Colonels.

As the first batch of new officers, they also laid the foundation of an apolitical Army and sanctified the principle of the Army's subservience to civil control, in marked contrast to the emerging nations of Asia and Africa. Cadets going to Pakistan likewise rose to positions of governor and ambassador.

The officers of this course were also the standard bearers as officers of the newly merged Gorkha regiments, hitherto exclusively officered by the British.

All in all, the Second Course IMA is rightfully recognised as one that set new trends and high standards.