Bastion of Indian Army's Lions - Indian Military Academy

It is not the classic of the travelogues. But it owes its genesis to our very own modern day memory keeper – Facebook that keeps reminding one about how we spent our bygone years. It was a few days earlier that Facebook brought back the memories of one of the very few experiences when my hair were standing on their ends – at the Indian Military Academy’s Passing out Parade.

I have had the good fortune of attending the Passing out Parade at the National Defence Academy as well twice. But this one scene from the whole passing out parade that made my heart race and I could feel the adrenaline rush. The Gentlemen Cadets were given the weight of the hopes and faith that the 1.2 billion strong nation reposed in them, in the form of the stars on their shoulders. 

After the parents of these few good men (or shall I say boys as most of them just came out of their teens) did the piping in ceremony; the newly commissioned officers moved to the grounds of this sprawling academy in Dehradun. After hundreds of young enthusiastic voices rang through the sky singing “kadam kadam badhaye ja, khushi ke geet gaye ja; yeh zindagi hai kaum ki, tu kaum pe lutaye ja” (Keep taking those steps, keep singing those songs of happiness; this life belongs to the country, and it is for the country you sacrifice it). 

And it was after this song, these former Gentlemen Cadets were given the first salute as officers by their “Ustaads”, who have been chiselling their character for the last one year. The feeling when you see your son/brother – a young lad – coming of age, the feeling cannot be described in words, as it is only you could feel the Goosebumps and the choking of throat with pride.

If given a chance do not miss the opportunity to witness the Passing out Parade at the IMA, where the young officers walk into the society with the Chetwode Motto (engraved on the entrance to the central hall of the Academy) –

"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."