"My day in the Campus of National Defence Academy"

“SERVICE BEFORE SELF”

The National Defence Academy of India located in Khadakwasla, Pune, is a joint services academy where
cadets of the three wings Army, Navy and Air Force are trained together before they go for their pre-
commission training to their respective academies. It covers an area of roughly 8,300 acres .It is divided
into 15 squadrons (From Alpha to Oscar ) , organised into 5 battalions. the crest is composed of symbols
representing the three services the cross swords, the anchor and the Himalayan eagle surmounted by the
Ashoka emblem. The symbols respectively denote the Army's martial valour, stability and poise of the Navy
and the aspirations of the Air Force to touch the skies with glory. The Ashoka emblem is symbolic of the
new Republic and depicts the pride of the Services in serving the motherland. The scroll at the base
epitomizes the ideal of 'Seva Paramo Dharma' or 'Service Before Self' which is the quintessence of the
concept of 'Nishkaam Karma' as derived from in the Bhagavad Gita.
History Of NDA

Empirical lessons from the World Wars

dictated the need for a joint Services
Academy to train future leaders for combined
operations. The vision of Lord Mountbatten in
consonance with the sustained impetus and
groundwork provided by Field Marshal Sir
Claude J Auchinlek, C-in-C in India laid the
conceptual foundation for a Joint Services
Military Academy modeled on the lines of the
US WestPoint. In 1941, Lord Linlithgow, the
then Viceroy of India had received a gift of a
hundred thousand pounds from a grateful
Sudanese Government for building a suitable war memorial in recognition of the sacrifices of
the Indian troops in the liberation of Sudan in the North African Campaign during  the World
War II. A committee headed by Field Marshal Sir Claude J Auchinlek, after extensive studying
of various Military academies around the world, submitted its recommendations to the
Government in December 1946.

After independence of India in August 1947, this report was referred to the Chiefs of Staff
Committee. Their suggestion for the formation of an interim Junior Inter Services Wing at the
Indian Military Academy, Dehradun was then implemented. A simultaneous action plan to
commission a permanent war academy at Khadakwasla, Pune was also commenced and the
foundation stone was laid by the first Prime Minister of India, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru on 06
October, 1949.

OBJECTIVES OF THE TRIP

 Visits to NDA – Air Force Wing are organised to enable the students to appreciate the
Air Force aspects.
 The central Cadets' Mess is one of the exclusive symbol of solidarity and brotherhood
among cadets. 1800 plus cadets breaking bread together is a heart warming sight
and conjures up vision of belongingness, bonding and deep rooted attachments. It
serves as a significant prologue to continued amalgamation of the tenets of 
'Jointmanship'. It teaches us the brotherhood of man and how these cadets later
serve our country together and protect us and how we should respect it.
 Gallery one in the Museum, called the Motivation Centre archives the history and
traces the chronological evolution of the Academy. It includes models of important
buildings of the Academy, memorabilia-depicting milestone Passing Out Parades,
distinguished alumni and gifts and mementos received from eminent personalities all
over the world .It brings us closer to the Indian Army and history of Independence of
our country and how only through the sacrifices of such brave cadets we still are
Independent India. We should honour them.
 Last but not the least, We were taken to NDA to show the youth of today that after so
much of hard work, unity and training our country gets such brave individuals and we
should do everything in our hand to co-operate with them , help them and appreciate
their life-giving attitude for the country .We should take inspiration from their lives and
at least be a part of such a great life.

EXPERIENCES

We visited a lot of places in NDA like the Sudan Block, the Habibullah Hall, Cadet’s Mess, the
Museum , and the AFTT.