history of indian military academy, dehradun

The founding of the Academy preceded the attainment of Independence from the British rule by 15 years. The heroes of India had shown such a feat in World War-I, that most prestigious 11 victoria cross, 5 military cross and many gallantry awards were awarded to Indians. The huge sacrifice of more than seventy four thousand soldiers made the British change its perceptions and the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were introduced that enabled ten Indians for receiving training at Sandhurst for induction as commissioned officers.

     The political foundation of the Indian Military Academy was laid on March 28, 1921 when the Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution on the report of the Esher Committee on the Army in India. A committee chaired by General Andrew Skeen, Chief of the General Staff was formed in 1925 to explore the possibility of opening an Indian Sandhurst.

     By 1928, the pressure in the legislative assembly was building up, when Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, Pandit Motilal Nehru, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Sir TV Sheshagiri Aiyer presented irrefutable arguments during the debates, and later Round Table Conference held in London in 1930, recommended the establishment of the Indian Sandhurst. As a follow up action, a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode, the then Commander-in-Chief of India, to work out modalities for establishment of an Indian Sandhurst.