Inauguration (1932)

           The Chetwode Committee recommended the buildings of the Railway Staff Training College to be suitable, that were completed in 1930, but closed down due to financial crisis. With a mutual agreement between the two government departments, the very imposing buildings and campus of the Railway Staff College, set in an area of 155.3 acres, were selected for housing the Indian Military Academy. 

            In Jul 1931, the committee recommended establishment of a military academy for induction of 40 Gentlemen Cadets (GC) in each term comprising 15 as Direct Entries, 15 from the ranks through Kitchner College, Nowgaon and 10 from princely states. The training span was initially envisaged for three years but later reduced to two and a half years.

       The first batch of 40 GCs commenced training in the facilities at Dehradun wef 01 October 1932 under the able stewardship of Brig LP Collins, DSO, OBE the first Commandant of the Academy. Among others the first course, called ‘Pioneers’, comprised SHFJ (Sam) Manekshaw (India), Smith Dun (Burma) and Mohd Musa (Pakistan), who later rose to the position of Army Chiefs of their respective countries.

     Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode, Baronet GCB, GCSS, CCMA, DSO, then Commander-in-Chief India, after whom the main building and its central hall are named, inaugurated the Academy on the penultimate day of the first term on 10 Dec 1932. A large number of Indian and European guests witnessed the occasion. The crowning glory of this landmark event was the inaugural address by Sir Philip Chetwode, delivered in the hallowed hall of the Academy, later named after him as the Chetwode Hall. His address was a pointed piece of stirring oration and has come to acquire a kind of immortality as a passage from his address has been adopted as the Credo of the Academy. The Chetwode saying echoes till date in each military establishments of India and continues to beckon the officers of their duty and honour. It says: -

"THE SAFETY, HONOUR AND WELFARE OF YOUR COUNTRY

COME 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."