75 glorious year of National Defence Academy

By: Manan Jain

The National Defence Academy (NDA) is an iconic institution and a global brand of excellence in the sphere of military education. The NDA has the unique distinction of being the world’s first joint training institution that prepares future officers for all three services. Over the years, it has evolved into a unique military academy, attracting the finest young minds from our nation and friendly foreign countries, transforming them into capable officers.

The concept of NDA was conceived at the conclusion of the Second World War by Field Marshal Sir Claude J Auchinleck. On May 2, 1945, a committee was formed to examine the feasibility of establishing an institute with excellent facilities to jointly train the officers of the armed forces. After 16 months of project work, from July 23, 1945, to November 12, 1946, Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru himself laid the foundation stone on October 6, 1949, at Khadakwasla (Pune), and it was formally inaugurated on January 16, 1955.

Next year, NDA is going to celebrate another glorious year of its existence. To mark this wonderful occasion, a year-long commemorative activity is planned by the Academy from January 19, 2023, to January 16, 2024. These activities are a fitting tribute to the various founders of the Academy and also honour the sacrifices of its alumni and their efforts to safeguard our nation.

Why Khadakwasla?

NDA is located in the southwest of Pune city and the northwest of Khadakwasla Lake, encompassing 7015 acres of land. Khadakwasla was ultimately chosen after careful deliberation due to its salubrious climatic conditions, suitability of terrain for military training, and proximity to the Arabian Sea.

Aim

To produce academically sound graduates through the offering of graduate programs in Sciences, Computer Science, Social Science, Engineering, so that each graduate becomes mentally, morally, and physically sound, cognitively empowered, prudent leaders, able to skillfully handle personnel and material in the context of ever-evolving battlefield scenarios.

Academy insignia

The present insignia was selected in 1948. The background is maroon, which is an apt colour of heraldry but also a symbol of chivalry and sacrifice. The crest is composed of the symbols of the three services superimposed on each other and mounted at the top by the Ashoka Capitol. The anchor supports the eagle. In this combined form, they are no longer four separate entities but fused into one whole, representing the jointmanship of the armed forces of India.

Academy motto

The motto of the academy has been inspired and extracted from the Bhagavad Gita: ‘Karmanevadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana’ (Your duty is action with no eye on the fruits it will bring). The idea was to put into the scroll of its english translation as ‘SERVICE BEFORE SELF’, and its Sanskrit version was ‘SEVA PARMO DHARMA’.

JAI HIND