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09 October, 1949: Territorial Army Established
09 October, 1949:
Territorial Army Established
December
10, 2007
New
Delhi
PM's
address at the Indian Military Academy Passing Out Parade (Excerpts)
"l
am truly delighted to be here today. It gives me great pride to review the
Passing Out Parade of the Platinum Jubilee Course of the Indian Military
Academy. This is a national institution of great importance of which the entire
nation is proud. And today is a red-letter day for this great institution. I
salute the memory of all those great soldiers and officers who had the honour
and the privilege of earning their spurs in these portals.
Nearly
sixty years ago, a few days after the passing away of the Father of Our Nation,
Lord Mountbatten gave an important message to this Academy when he said:
"It
is for the Army, more than any other organized unit in the country, both, to
set an example and to bring about the policy Mahatma Gandhi gave his life for;
that of Unified India without any communal buttress or ill feeling".
These
words ring true even today. The Indian Army is a symbol and a proud example of
the unity of our great country. It is a living example of national integration.
Each one of you is a proud soldier of India willing to perform the supreme
sacrifice for our Republic, without fear or favour, without any prejudice based
on your ethnic, religious, linguistic, regional or caste identity. You are
Indians first, and Indians last.
The
Indian Armed Forces are the best and the most shining example of "Unity in
Diversity". It is your responsibility to strengthen the values of
secularism, apolitical outlook and professionalism, which your worthy
predecessors have so painstakingly nurtured. Our Nation, our people and,
indeed, the world at large respect the professionalism of our armed forces.
The
Indian Army has a formidable image, both at home and abroad. It is an Army
known for its long martial tradition with the ethos of nationalism, patriotism
and discipline as its bedrock. Our citizens are proud of the sacrifices made by
our armed forces. We salute the Army's role in preserving our territorial
integrity, as also in serving our people during times of national calamities.
We all admire the Army for the exemplary service it has rendered and continues
to render to our nation. We admire the exemplary humanism and professionalism
of the Indian Army in providing relief and supporting rehabilitation in the aftermath
of a flood, an earthquake, a landslide or other natural calamities.
The
IMA flag has the Colours – ‘Steel Grey' and 'Blood Red' with the motto, ‘Valour
and Wisdom'. These symbolise the steel in your resolve to perform with valour
and wisdom. From Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to Param Vir Chakras Som Nath and
Manoj Pandey, this great institution has nurtured leaders of great calibre who
have distinguished themselves in the service of our nation in war and in peace.
The
Indian Armed Forces do in fact have a message for our people and for the world
around us based on the record of their service to our nation. They have adhered
to the highest standards of professional conduct. They function with the
deepest regard for the letter and spirit of the democratic Constitution of our
secular Republic.
Our
armed forces have demonstrated to the world that it is possible for one of the
largest armies in the world, one of the oldest armies in the world and one of
the most professional armies in the world to strengthen the sinews of a
democratic society and pluralistic nation. We feel proud about this unblemished
record of professionalism of our armed forces. By strengthening the foundations
of our democracy, and defending democracy at home and abroad, through UN
Peacekeeping, you have set an example for nations and societies across the
world.
The
challenge before you today is to become more efficient and more modern in your
functioning. In the modern world a modern army is a knowledge-based force. The
application of science and technology and information technology has become an
integral part of defence preparedness and warfare. It used to be said, in a
different age, that an army moves on its belly. That was a time when brawn more
than brain, determined the power of a soldier.
In
the knowledge era, every soldier is a thinking machine. This means we need better
educated and better trained soldiers. It also means that our officers and
soldiers must be able to relate to each other as trained professionals.
Hence,
high quality training, good quality equipment and the ability to strategise and
act are essential to the success of our armed forces. Training, equipment and
organisation are keys to delivery in action….
Another
dimension of a modern army in the modern world is increased jointness in action
and in thinking. At every stage in the career of our officers and soldiers we need
greater investment in jointness in thinking and functioning. Institutions like
the Indian Military Academy, and other institutions of our armed forces, must
develop the intellectual and organisational framework for such jointness in thinking
and in action.
An
important, perhaps "the" important function of the Indian Military
Academy, and its sister institutions in the armed forces, is in fact to instil
the correct leadership values in our officers. What you have learnt here
constitutes the foundation on which you will act, you will lead and you will
learn in years to come. These values of valour, courage, camaraderie,
integrity, honesty and efficiency are fundamental values of good leadership.
The
second role of an institution like the IMA would be to instil a respect for
knowledge and learning. Constant learning and re-learning are necessary to
remain relevant in a fast changing world. I have always been impressed by the
quality of our training and management development institutions of our Armed
Forces. That is why our institutions also continue to attract students from
distant lands.
I
am happy to know that today amongst those who are passing out are members of
friendly foreign countries of Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Bhutan and Kazakhstan. I
hope each one of our guest-cadets have enjoyed their stay in India and will be
returning home with happy memories of their stay in our country. I also hope
that the training that they have received here will benefit them in the service
of their country. The bonds of friendship with fellow cadets that they have
formed here will further strengthen the bonds of friendship between our
nations.
I
extend my heartiest congratulations to the proud parents and guardians of the
cadets. Their pride is well justified; for the young men here are the
creme-de-la-creme of our great nation. The nation reposes its trust in them. It
looks to them with pride and with hope. Let me once again compliment them on
the steadiness and precision that they have shown in the parade today. I wish
them all great success in their chosen career. Finally, let me remind them of their ideal,
their duty, their Karma and their Dharma in one line, 'For the honour of
India'."
Source:
Manmohan Singh Papers, MSS, NMML
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