Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun - Career
Indian Military Academy IMA Dehradun: Established in 1931, IMA, short for Indian Military Academy, is one of India’s premier Army officer training institutions, located in Dehradun. Founded under the chairmanship of Field Marshal Philip Chetwode following recommendations from the Indian Military College Committee, it has over the decades played an important role in producing Army officers.
The Indian Military Academy, once training 40 gentlemen cadets in 1932, now is honored with educating over 400 cadets each batch, constituting a total of 1,650 cadets. Our country proudly wears this badge of accomplishment in its lapel, displaying our national security and self-reliance.
Aim of Indian Military Academy IMA Dehradun
IMA follows its core mantra:
“Veerta aur Vivek” – “Bravery and Discernment”.
Its cadets go through strenuous training to equip them to be successful army Lieutenants when their course is over. Today, IMA celebrates the 87th raising day and proudly announces that more than 61,000 gentlemen cadets have graduated to date.
A part of their honor code lies the four tenets that embody character-building: truth, honesty, integrity, and intolerance of all unethical activities.
These moral values draw from the ‘Warrior Code’ of the Bhagavad Gita, which underscores the duty of a warrior and propagates an ethos of righteousness and mercy.
Alumni of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
The list of alumni from IMA, Dehradun, which have earned Param Chakra comprises names like- Somnath Sharma, Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Colonel Hoshiar Singh, and Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria. Furthermore, IMA has given the society 17 Ashoka Chakras, 84 Maha Vir Chakras, and 41 Kirti Chakras as tokens of honor to its deserving alumni. India’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw also served as an alumnus of IMA.
The Beginning of Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
The British gentry restricted the natives of India which deprived them of reaching higher posts and being trained locally for military posts.
It was during World War I that the Indian soldiers became very commendable for their unparalleled services. Consequently, Montague-Chelmsford Reforms gave allowance to at least ten Indian natives to be sent annually to Royal Military College, Sandhurst for officer training.
Subsequently, in the year 1922, Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College (later called RIMC, Rashtriya Indian Military College) was initiated in Dehradun to help those ten young natives in getting admission to the Royal Military College. This eventually led to the existence of IMA.
Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun's History
The formation of the Indian officers’ cadre had started with the recruitment of 31 officers but the then British government turned a blind eye towards the pressing demand for further augmentation. Fortunately, the representatives present at the first Round Table Conference of 1930 paid heed to the requests and put the wheels in motion for an officer training college. In 1931, a committee was constituted, under the helm of Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode, to study the prospect of the creation of an Indian Military Academy. After thorough deliberations, it was decided to set up the IMA at Dehradun, to train 40 commissioned officers, every six months, after two and a half years.
Trainees' Life at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
The IMA Dehradun Academy is a home for GCs, of different cultural backgrounds, to come together and share in the unity of brotherhood and peace, learning the immense worth of India’s pluralism. As GCs, they must embrace the obligations that come with the life of a cadet – that includes the keeping of discipline in the academy.
This is done through the mandatory coursework in Physical Training, Weapons/Artillery Training, Leadership Development, and Practices. It is with these skills that gentleman cadets will grow in character and responsibility, which can only serve to honor the institution of IMA.
Gentlemen Cadets are required to strictly abide by the regulations of the Academy in every setting. Whether it’s on-campus or off-campus visits by relatives, family, or partners, certain days and time slots are allotted for their meetups. No cadet is allowed to overstep the predetermined schedule and all out-campus travels need official sanctioning.
As this Army academy provides many high-ranking employment prospects, there is a continuous stream of individuals wishing to enroll and be a part of the Indian National Army.
Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun's Selection Process
The process for selecting cadets for Indian Military Academy is lengthy. Aspirants for IMA must abide by the Age limit, Physical and Medical standards and participate in competitive examinations.
Firstly, cadets have to take a written test to assess their cognitive abilities. Those who pass this test move to the medical examination to ensure they can withstand the rigorous physical requirements of the Academy.
Afterward, they are interviewed to decide if they are a suitable fit. Those who manage to clear all the stages will receive the required training. If a candidate is graduating from a non-military college, they must stay in the academy for one and a half years. To be an aspirant for the IMA, applicants must possess a valid degree from a recognized university in any discipline. Joining IMA is no different than any other force as successful completion of an entrance examination is required.
Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun's Location
Reaching IMA Dehradun is fairly easy and convenient. The institute is located at NH72 and can be accessed by shared autos, Vikram, or buses that run between the city center (Clock Tower) and the institute.
Dehradun Railway Station and Jolly Grant Airport, located 7 and 35 kilometres away respectively, are the nearest transportation connections. IMA Dehradun is divided into two parts – the North campus and the South campus, which lie on either side of the national highway.
Conclusion: Established in 1932, the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun is one of India’s most prestigious training institutions for prospective officers in the Indian Armed Forces. It has been the crucible of leaders of outstanding character and exemplary integrity, having successfully molded numerous aspiring cadets into fully-fledged officers of the highest caliber over the years.
From valour in combat to unshakeable patriotism, IMA’s illustrious alumni have shown their worth in many battles, upholding the honour and pride of the Indian Armed Forces and its tricolour with remarkable fortitude.
