Behind the Smoke-Screen (Emergence of the National War Academy, An Untold Story)

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October 31, 1928 Tottenham, the army Secretary, spoke on the University Training Corps and gave some figures as to its cost. I spoke and, as C.R.Reddy put it, smashed his arguments and figures. Then J.P. Thompson of Punjab fame, interrupted me and asked, "By advocating Military Studies, do you mean to have military Colleges?" I said, "I mean exactly what Cambridge means when it prescribes Military History, Tactics, and Organisation for the degree course." There were no further interruptions.

3rd Meeting of the National War Academy Working Committee held on 28 June 1946 at the GHQ, New Delhi. (Point no.2) A further site on the opposite side of the lake had been suggested. This commanded a good view with the Mahratta fort of SINGHGARH in the background, and facilities for training, recreation and agricultural farm, etc. There is an ancient fort 25 miles from Pune. It was earlier known as Kondhana as it is ascribed to be built by Sage Kaundiya. In 1647 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja renamed it as Singhgarh. The fight for this particular fort between the Maharattha forces under Shivaji Maharaja and the Moghuls continued for long. A great Maharattha General Tanaji Malusare made the supreme sacrifice for this fort and his statue was put up here to commemorate his contribution.

21 August, 1946, Lucknow. "Initially", he (Dr Amarnatha Jha, Vice Chairman of the National War Academy Working Committee) said "We had taken the United States Military Academy at West Point as a model, but after a tour of the various institutions in the United Kingdom, Canada and America, we incorporated the best points of all. Thus the project as it stands today is for an academy as perfect as the human mind can conceive".-Α.Ρ.Ι.

22 September, 1946, Bombay. The Premier, S.A.Bralvi, Juhee of the Times of India and about 15 others, officers & newsmen were present. Kher made a warm speech in introducing me as the architect of the defence of India saying the Chief was fortunate in having got me.

Behind the Smoke-screen: Emergence of the National War Academy, An Untold Story" the book on the wonderful story of establishment of National War Academy, now known as National Defence Academy, is ready for publication. The National Defence Academy, Khadagwasla, Poone, is one of the best amongst the elite Military Officers' Training institutions of the world. It was planned and established between 1945 and 1948 and the story behind its establishment is still not fully explained. We get a glimpse of it in many books but no one has covered the full story, which itself is very interesting. The Nation, its magnificent army of brave patriot soldiers and the great thought and people behind this wonderful institution requires a History to be told, a History of the creation of this august institution. It is needed to let the people know how we honour our soldiers by creating such institution, greater than a Taj and how an academician planned the establishment of a War Academy, now known as National Defence Academy.

Tejakar Jha, Born on the 19th September, 1968. Son of Late Prof. Hetukar Jha.

A Post Graduate in Sociology with specialization in Advanced Research Methodology, holds a Diploma in Systems Development and Marketing Management.

Tejakar works as a Consultant in the field of sustainable development, education and media planning for Non-Government Organizations. He specialises in documentation on Bihar in historical perspective with emphasis on audio-visual history of the state.

He has seven books and about ten research papers published till date. Widely quoted, his works are acclaimed for the archival material used in them. He has been continuously working on issues related to modern Indian history and the journey continues with the present book.

I had written a long Prologue instead of a small preface in the earlier diary of Professor Amarnath Jha pertaining to the accounts of the year 1927. (Maya. The Immortal Romance, 2020.) As soon as Jha sahab's cousin, Sri Tejakar Jha had compiled the diary pertaining to the scholar- administrator's contribution to the foundation of the premier institution of military teaching and training, that is the N.D.A. he once again, gave me the honour of writing the preface. I think the association of four generations of my immediate family with the University of Allahabad has been responsible for this. My grandfather, Late Justice Braj Kishore Chaturvedi did his High School (1920), Intermediate (1923), B.A. (1925) LL.B. (1927) from the University before leaving for London for his Bar-at-Law in 1928. My father, Late Sharad Chandra Chaturvedi passed his B.A. and M.A. (History) in the period 1946-1950 and my mother, Late Shakuntala Chaturvedi passed her B.A and MA. (Political Science) in the period 1948-1952 both from the University of Allahabad. Later, I did my B.A. and M.A. (History) in the period 1974-78 from the University of Allahabad and, later joined research to be appointed as a Lecturer in the department of History on January 14, 1980. Thus began a long association with my alma mater from 1974 till my superannuation in December 2021 and retirement in June 2022. In the meantime my younger sister, Sunanda did her U.G. and P.G. and later still, daughter Vanya did her B.Com from my alma mater.

Society evolves through its institutions, and institutions are not made in a single day or by a single person. It needs a lot of planning based on perceived needs and experience gathered in a span of time frame. This stands true to the core for the institutions of war/ defence, as conflict and cooperation are the two basic building blocks of any civilization. Evolution of military studies and tactics have been one of the most discussed favourite subjects of great learned people right from the earliest recorded history of mankind. All the great epics of the world Mahabharata, Ramayan, Iliad, etc. have war descriptions and issues related to it in a major way.

In 2005-06 1 was handed over two Diaries and about 130 odd pages from other diaries of late Dr. Amarnatha Jha by my father, late Dr. Hetukar Jha. My father had received these diaries and some other documents/ books/ photographs from late Ravindra Nath Jha, youngest son of late Dr. Aditya Nath Jha, as instructed by his mother late Adya Jha. Dr. Amarnatha Jha's illustrious father late Dr. Sir Ganga Natha Jha and my paternal grandfather, late Baldeo Jha, were first cousins as their mothers viz. Ramakashi Devi and Jaimangla Devi were the only children of late Maharajakumar Basudev Singh of Darbhanga. Besides, the two sisters, Ramakashi and Jaimangla were married in two closely related families in the same village, Sarisab-Pahi of erstwhile district of Darbhanga, which made the two families have very close bonding. My father was the youngest amongst all cousins and so had the privilege of being loved by all.