I joined the 26th Regular Course of IMA on January 6, 1960 as an ex-NDA. I was assigned Cassino Company of No. 1 Battalion, then located at the Collins Block. The Commandant was Brig Nanavati and the Deputy Commandant was the suave Guardsman, Col John Dalvi. Maj RC Butalia of Artillery was our Company Commander and Capt Barua from Assam the Assessing Officer. The general calibre of instructional staff was well above the average. Five of the then Captains (AOs) rose to the rank of Lieutenant General.

My stay at the Academy started on a rather unpropitious note. Our Drill Sahib was a lanky, hawkish Jat JCO who, even before he knew my name, decided not to like me. So, on the very first Saturday afternoon after joining the Academy, I found myself on the Drill Square on extra-drill parade. Thereafter, extra-drills came my way quite frequently and as time passed I began to enjoy them. Unfortunately for me, despite the Drill Sahib, I passed the Drill Square test in the very first attempt. This somewhat infuriated him and he became even more liberal in the award of extra-drills to me.

I had been a ‘technical’ cadet at NDA which meant a lot of studies. But at IMA, with more stress on outdoor training, studies took a back seat– a situation we all found very agreeable. I loved being out in the open and took that part of the training quite seriously. Fortunately, I was also a good firer. A little effort on my part would have earned me some recognition but I simply refused to make use of my talents.

Ten days before the passing-out, Capt Somanna called me and informed me that I had not been allotted Engineers, the arm I had opted for. He told me that I would do very well in Infantry and advised me to represent my request in front of the Commissioning Board. I was overwhelmed by his concern for except in the camp, I had had little interaction with him.

The Commissioning Board, held in the central hall of the Chetwode Building, was a very intimidating affair. All that you saw on entering was a row of high brass sitting on the other side of a long, lone table with their faces half-masked by their peak caps and the conspicuous red bands. We marched into it one at a time as per the merit list. At the entrance, Assistant Adjutant and a posse of Drill Sahibs warned us sternly not to say a word more than ‘yes sir’. I entered the room with great trepidation. But my prayers were not answered as I was informed that I had been commissioned into the Corps of Signals. "No Sir", I responded promptly. There was a mild commotion and I could hear some murmur. Finally, a voice enquired, "But you have opted for Signals?" "I did, sir. That was my third choice". After an exchange of a few sentences, I was warned, "Your refusal to join the Signals may mean relegation". "You may withdraw me, sir". After a silence for a few seconds, someone said, "All right. We will see later. March off !".

On stepping out of the hall, a very angry Assistant Adjutant promptly forecast my future, "Relegation!". When he left, my Drill Sahib snarled at me, Hum ko pata tha GC Kale, aap afsar ke qabil nahin hain (I knew, you would never make an officer). The previous morning, the Drill Subedar Major, unhappy with the performance of Staff Sergeants as the right markers, decided to replace them. He chose me for Cassino Company’s right marker, overruling Drill Sahib’s strong non-recommendation.

I had nothing against any corps since I knew so little about Army. For me, one corps was as good as the other. Ten minutes later, having arrived halfway, the Board took a brief break. I was called to the Deputy Commandant’s office along with a tall, lanky colleague who apparently was unhappy being allotted Infantry.

We marched to the Deputy Commandant together. For the next five minutes, he gave us a thorough dressing-down for our insolent and obdurate behaviour in front of the Board. We only half–listened to him, fearing the worst that would follow. Suddenly his voice mellowed. He looked at me, "Are you willing to go to Jats"? "Yes, sir". Then turning to my colleague, he asked, "And you to the Corps of Signals?"