Dehradun, December 12
With the increasing role of the Army in counter- insurgency operations, the Army has seen major changes in the training of Indian Military Academy (IMA) cadets in the last one decade.

Earlier, the Indian Army was mainly battling external aggression but during the past few decades, it has also played an active role in counter-insurgency operations, whether it be in Jammu and Kashmir or the North East.

The IMA, a nursery of officers who not only guard the borders but also fight with terrorists, has witnessed several changes with respect to military training being imparted here.

The Army doctrine on counter-insurgency operations has undergone a review with focus shifting to the “iron hand in velvet glove” technique. Apart from the change in the academic syllabi, there has been an effort to change the concept of military training too.

“Technology has transformed the present-day battlefield. Today, wars are a complex mix of the human element, artificial intelligence, and precision firepower. The battle space has been shrinking at a rapid pace and the scope for error is minimal. “Training has, thus, been reoriented and reconstructed to enable the Army officer to operate and provide effective leadership in an integrated inter-service environment”, said IMA Commandant Lieut Gen Rajinder Singh Sujlana.

Also, the counter-insurgency syllabus at the IMA has been refined with emphasis on human rights, zero collateral damage, higher degree of professionalism, focus on intelligence-based precision operations and a constructive relationship with the media.

Since the present environment has seen increased deployment of the Army on UN missions and enhanced military to military interaction with a large number of foreign countries, efforts are on at the IMA to widen the horizon of the GCs by way of including selective country-based studies and UN mission case studies.

During 2008-09, the IMA organised cadet-to-cadet interaction with military academies of the US, Bhutan and Turkey.

Furthermore, with information technology revolution all over the world, the IMA is now laying thrust on making the GCs IT savvy. “The endeavour is to prepare and fortify the officer cadets to operate in a networked technology-intensive battlefield.

Besides giving IT training adequate emphasis in the curriculum, we have established information kiosks, wherein a GC can utilise installed hardware and the Internet in a congenial, stress-free and creative environment,”said the IMA Commandant.

Notably, in the wake of increase in the number of cases of fratricide, the IMA training has witnessed changes with respect to psychological aspect of training of the GCs.

“The safety, honour and welfare of your country comes 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.”

These were the golden words of Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode, while inaugurating the IMA on December 10, 1932, which became the credo of the academy and motivated thousands of officers who passed out of the portals of their alma mater.

The year 2008 is the 76th year of the formation of the IMA and it has come a long way since its inauguration in 1932. The institution that to begin with trained 40 men each term, now has a capacity to house 1,650 cadets.

Situated between the Shivalik and Himalayan foothills in the scenic Doon valley at Dehradun, the IMA campus covers an area about 1,400 acres mid-way between the Ganga and the Yamuna.

It is the nodal institution for pre-commission training of Gentleman Cadets. In the aftermath of the Chinese aggression in 1962, the academy was expanded. Exactly 30 years after the IMA was founded on December 10, 1962, the second President of the Republic of India, Dr S. Radhakrishnan, presented new colours to the IMA to replace the ones presented by the Earl of Willingdon.

In 1976 these colours were replaced by those presented by President Fakruddin Ali Ahmed. After 70 years of its existence, on December 10, 2002, the IMA got a new “Code of Warriors”, which reads: “I am a warrior fighting is my Dharma, I will train my mind body and spirit to fight, I will excel in all devises and weapons of war, present and future, I will always protect the weak, I will be truthful to bluntness, I will be humane, cultured and compassionate, I will fight and embrace the consequences. God give me strength that I ask nothing of you.”

Dehradun, December 12
Salubrious environs, a peaceful atmosphere and a host of choices for pursuing higher education have all worked in Dehradun becoming a magnet for North East students, who have a sizeable presence here.

However, a recent incident of eve teasing with one of the girls having been pulled by her hair, has exposed their vulnerability. Such attacks were unheard of in Dehradun, known for its tolerant and cosmopolitan outlook.

A group of college students studying BSc Agriculture at Sri Guru Ram Rai (SGRR) PG College were molested by anti-social elements outside the college premises.The aggrieved girls submitted a memorandum to the local administration, demanding security.The police is investigating the matter.

A large number of girl students from Assam, Sikkim and Manipur in the city either live in hostels or rented accommodation nearby. It has not been an easy ride for most of them.

There are more than 400 Sikkimese and an equal number of Manipuri students studying in different colleges and institutions here. Most of them prefer staying in groups as they don’t want to undergo what Somi, a Manipur girl, enrolled in a course in nursing at a local college, had to face.

“ Renting a house was a problem. When I finally zeroed in one, I was grilled by the landlady who questioned me on my eating habits and personal life. That was not all. Later, I was told she had a penchant for raising the rent arbitrarily,” Somi said.

These girl students are often fleeced by auto drivers, bus conductors and petty shopkeepers. “ I may look different and have poor command on Hindi, but why should it be held against me? I have come here to study because there are no good colleges where I live,” says Sewanta, a student of BSc Agriculture.

Besides their own inclination, state scholarships offered by the Sikkim government has encouraged several students to opt for Sri Guru Ram Rai College where they study agriculture.

“These students are very bright and have been sent here on scholarship by the government of Sikkim,”nformed VA Bourai, principal of the college.

These girls live in rented accommodation, face sudden arbitrary hike in rent and face the spectre of immediate eviction.

“Arranging hostel facility for students is our priority, but at times this is not possible.We understand that they need to feel secure and hostels are being constructed for them,” said the principal of SGGR College.

“The prejudice regarding our appearance is acceptable. We stand out because of our Mongoloid features, but that does not mean we are duffers. Our food habits and culture may be different but our parents have sent us to study here and they have expectations from us like all parents,” says Youl who is a BSc student of SGRR.

Lt Gen R.K. Jasbir Singh (retd) when he was the Deputy Commandant of the IMA

Thus, it was the only time in its 76-year history that the Gentlemen Cadets came to the aid of the civil authority in the maintenance of law and order. So creditable was the combat duty of the Gentlemen Cadets in that emergency that the Dehradun Force Commander sent a personal message to IMA Commandant Brig AB Barltrop greatly praising and appreciating their role and conduct.

Passing out parade a gala affair

The passing out parade in December, 1947, was a gala affair. About 1,000 civil and military guests watched the impressive and dignified ceremonial parade. It was the first POP after the country's Independence. And fittingly, the reviewing officer was no other than Sardar Baldev Singh, India's first Defence Minister.

That batch turned out to be one of the most distinguished in the annals of the IMA. One hundred and eighty-nine gentlemen cadets received regular commission that day.

Of those, 12 rose to the rank of Lieutenant General, 20 became Major General and 26 Brigadier. There were 25 Colonels and 45 Lieut Colonels.

Interestingly, at one time in December 1984, the second course was on the top of the world with four of its officers occupying the august rank of Army Commanders.

— The writer is a freelance journalist