IMA – First Course …
Brig LP Collins, Commandant IMA sits in the centre flanked by the Pioneer First course. One Field Marshal and Chief (India), one Chief ( Pak Army) one C-in-C Burmese Army rose from this course.
UO Smith Dunn, seated on right of the Comdt won the Sword of Honour. Sgt NS Bhagat ( elder brother of Gen PS Bhagat (VC), seated first from left won the Gold Medal. JUO Bhagwati IC-1 ( seated third from left) became the seniormost IC number joined 16 Cavalry and later Para Regt.
The other JUOs were Harbhjan Singh seated to the left of Comdt and next to him JUO RG Lagan. Harbhajan Singh was from Patiala State Forces and the tallest GC and he carried the colours. He also joined 16 Cav but shifted to Jat Regt and became their first Colonel of Regt as Brigadier.
Seated second from left is GC Musa who became Chief of Pakistan Army in the 60s. Standing fourth from left in the last row is GC Sam Maneckshaw (IC-13) who rose to be the Chief and Field Marshal of India.
Standing fourth from left in the last row is GC Sam Maneckshaw (IC-13) who rose to be the Chief and Field Marshal of India.
GC Harbakhsh Singh also joined this course but had to repeat a term. He also rose to command an Army and was Colonel of The Sikh Regt for over 13 years.
IC 12 Lt Col DR Rai, MVC , CO 1 Sikh, gave this course the First Medal for Valor.
Field Marshal Sir Philip Chetwode, after whom the main building and its central hall are named, inaugurated the Academy on 10 December 1932 on the penultimate day of the first term. He had been appointed Commander-in-Chief, India in 1930 and promoted to Field Marshal in 1932, Extracts from his Address …….
“I now address myself to the Gentlemen Cadets in particular. I welcome you as the first cadets of a purely Indian Military Academy. I also welcome the Gentlemen Cadets from the Indian States”.
“I would ask you to remember that you have come here to have your first lessons in three principles which must guide an officer of a National Army, and they are :-
‘First, the safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time.
‘Second, the honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next.
‘Third, your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time”.
IMPROVEACRATI.....improve.....grow.....excel ! 
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