Later this month, my alma mater, the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), will commence celebrating its diamond jubilee. It was the New Year’s Day of 1949 when the fledgling Inter Services Wing (later renamed the Joint Services Wing) was set up at Dehradun.
The coming New Year’s Day will, therefore, be a proud day not only for those who have passed out of the Academy over the last 60 years, but also for all military persons and indeed for the entire nation.
The officer cadets who have passed out from the portals of this hallowed institution later led the defence forces of the country through wars and conflicts, which the nation had to fight and is still fighting and did so from the front, setting examples of courage and professionalism rarely seen.
When I joined the NDA in June 1957, the reins of the Academy were in the capable hands of Major Gen E. Habibullah, a versatile and lovable General officer of the old school. I use the words “reins”, both figuratively and metaphorically, for he was also an accomplished horseman, besides commanding this fine institution, which converted gawky adolescent boys into gentlemen and later officers of the defence forces.
We were also privileged to train under the guidance of two commandants, as midway during our course, Rear Admiral B.A. Samson, a smart and dynamic Flag officer of the Indian Navy, took over command of the Academy and presided over our passing-out parade in June, 1960.
I did visit the NDA on a few occasions thereafter, but the defining moment for me was in June, 2001, when I was given the exceptional honour of reviewing the passing-out parade, exactly 41 years after I had marched out past the quarter deck, hopefully smartly, and said goodbye to the Academy, which had turned me round from a boy to a man! By happenstance, it was my erstwhile Golf squadron, which had earned the championship trophy that year, making me doubly proud!
Let me share another nostalgic moment with this Academy of excellence. I was back at the NDA in June last year along with a number of course mates for celebrating yet another milestone in our lives. This was to celebrate the golden jubilee of the day, 50 years back, when our course had entered the precincts of this fine institution, which embraced us with love and care, taught us discipline and the appreciation of the good things of life, set us on the road to military professionalism and built our character for the vicissitudes of life that would follow.
Thanks to the current commandant, Air Marshal T.S. Randhawa, and his dedicated and efficient team of instructors, our brief sojourn can only be termed as momentous. We relived the life we had led as cadets and appreciated all the changes for the better, which successive commandants had instituted to ensure that the Academy continued to be the apex institution of learning in our country.
While the country, the Indian military and especially the alumni of this institution of excellence would rejoice and celebrate this remarkable and unique journey, we also need to take time out to ponder on the future.
Will India be able to sustain and excel the achievements of this exceptional institution in the face of diminishing numbers joining the Academy and the defence forces, as well as the vast shortage of officers in all the three services?
It is important to reflect on the reasons why young men are shying away from joining the defence forces, including this famed institution.
I do not subscribe to the view that in today’s consumer-oriented society, there is a paucity of patriots and warriors in our nation. Even a cursory look at our long history of wars and sacrifices by our soldiers and their leaders of yore should convince us that there is no dearth of valour amongst our countrymen. Neither can the reason be a perceived decline in the standards of the defence forces or of the NDA.
The truth is that over the years, despite many centrifugal forces working against the defence forces, they continue to serve the nation with dedication and resolve; I need not remind the readers of their sterling efforts in the successful resolution of a highly explosive situation at Mumbai only a few days back, where in the best traditions of the Army two young lads, Major Unnikrishnan and Havildar Gajendra Singh, sacrificed their lives for the nation.
As far as the NDA is concerned, not only has it lived up to its glorious past but has vastly improved its academics, military training and most importantly building the highest level of character qualities.
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi (Retd)
Former Vice Chief of Army Staff and alumni of the famed 18th course of the NDA
Imperative to make military service attractive
First step in and out of the NDA by Lt Gen Harbhajan Singh
18 Course reunion
National Defence Academy
National Defence Academy 60 Glorious Years
