Army Physical Training Corps
Script error: No such module "AfC submission catcheck".
EVOLUTION OF ARMY PHYSICAL TRAINING CORPS
Physical toughness and a sound mind are sine qua non of a fighting force. In the pre-historic age, man’s quest for fitness was driven by the imperative to survive the rigours of hunting and gathering. Today, though not propelled by subsistence requirements, it remains an absolute must for good health, well being and for military prowess. Physical fitness can be broadly categorized as general fitness, which deals with good health, well being and specifies fitness. For an Armed Force, both these categories are important because, all ranks of an Army must have the ability to function with sufficient energy to engage in operations in the most trying weather and terrain conditions and be able to withstand physical and mental stresses.
The history of the Indian Army Physical Training Corps dates back to the British era. Prior to World War I, there were three separate schools of physical training in India. These were located at Pune, Lucknow and Ambala. They imparted training to Indian and British instructors. At that time, physical training in India was rudimentary in comparison to the methods of instruction prevalent at the Army Physical Training School at Aldershot, U.K. With a view to modernise the training system in India, a few officers from the Indian Army were sent to Aldershot to study their system and incorporate necessary changes in the curriculum of imparting physical training in India.
Col Bruce Turnbull, DSO, MC, a leading member of the aforce-said team, took the initiative and selected several Army Physical Training instructors from UK and brought them to India, in Mar 1923. In the same year, Ambala was chosen as the location for a physical training school with its summer Headquarters at Kasauli. The physical fitness of troops, particularly those operating in the Eastern, Northern, Western and Southern regions, had assumed crucial significance. Further, it was deemed essential that adequate number of trained instructors were available to meet the over increasing demand. By 1943, three additional schools were set up at Pune, Shillong and Rawalpindi. Ambala, however, continued to remain the Central Army Physical Training School till 1947. As there was no dedicated physical training Corps, the bulk of the instructors trained at these schools were officers, JCOs and NCOs who had been deputed for a two year period.
During the World War II, a necessity was felt for creating a separate Corps for physical training. The Indian Army Physical Training Corps was formed on 1 July, 1946 with a target strength of 307 instructors. These instructors were posted on proportional scale to all Regimental centres and Schools of instruction. The emblem of the British Army Physical Training Corps with two changes, (viz., the British Crown being replaced by the Star of India and the word ‘India’ taking the place of the British motto) was accepted. Official orders for the raising of Corps were, however, issued on 11 January 1947 (well 7/47). It stipulated that the Inspector of Physical Training (GHQ) would be the Commandant of the Indian Army School of Physical Training would be the Assistant Commandant of the IAPTC. Lt Col Mohinder Singh (Later Maj Gen) was selected to raise the Corps. He had much to do with organising the Army Physical Training Corps, which he did “on a similar pattern to its counterpart in UK”.
The role given to the Army Physical Training Corps is to raise, maintain and further improve the standard of physical training, and to ensure a uniform procedure and method of instructions in physical and recreational training in the Army. It further aims at making a soldier fit, both physically and mentally, to play the assigned role efficiently and effectively during war and peace. It also lays emphasis on developing integrated effectiveness with gravitation towards physical, mental, emotional, social and moral growth of a soldier. Incidentally, it takes upon itself the responsibility of imparting basic training in games and sports, thus championing the cause of physical fitness through recreation.
GENESIS OF ARMY INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL TRAINING
(erstwhile Army School of Physical Training)
Army Institute of Physical Training is located on the Pune-Solapur highway, about 6 kms from the Pune Railway station. Erstwhile Eve’s Estate, which was acquired for six annas in the year 1946, from Sir E Victor Sassoon, a Jewish merchant-prince, millionaire and international sportsman, is the existing campus of the institute. Pune’s salubrious climate was considered conducive to physical activity round the year and the vast, open grounds of Eve’s Estate were considered suitable for making it the permanent location of the Institute. The relocation from Ambala to Pune was completed out in Dec 1947.
As stated earlier, before and during World War I, Indian subcontinent had three separate PT Schools located at Poona, Lucknow and Ambala which were responsible for training Indian and British soldiers. However, towards the end of the War, PT School Lucknow was closed down.
In the summer of 1923, the Poona School was closed down as a major PT Centre, and the School at Ambala remained the one Central Army School of Physical Training for the whole of India, with its summer Headquarters at Kasauli. From then until 1947, the Army School of Physical Training, much to the envy of the local units, had been moving to Kasauli in April and returning to Ambala in September every year. From 1923 to 1940 Indian and British students were trained in Ambala, and only British students at Kasauli. During the summer, all Indian instructors were sent on tour to the various Training Battalions. They helped the training cadres and carried out preparatory courses, thus keeping the Battalions up to date.
In order to keep pace with the increasing requirement of Indian instructors, Indian courses were also organised in Kasauli from 1940. This was made possible by the absence of British units in Kasauli and fewer British students attending PT Course on two occasion (1941 and 1942). Subsequently it was found necessary to establish another wing of ASPT at Dagshai.
In order to cope with yet a greater demand for instructors, three Physical and Recreational Training Schools were set up, one for the North Western Army at Rawalpindi, one for the Eastern Army at Shillong and one for the Southern Army at Pune. The Central Command remained the wing of the Headquarter School and during the winter of 1943 used the Gymnasium at Lucknow. In the following summer, the Central Command worked side by side with the ASPT at Kasauli. In the forth-coming winter, in lieu of moving the Central Command Wing back to Lucknow, it was decided to try out winter training at Kasauli itself. However, the winter of 1944-45 proved to be the most severe, with a record fall of snow the preceding thirty years (three feet six inches deep on the parade ground). The health of the students thus became a major concern.
During the War, the duration of the course was reduced from 12 weeks to 7 weeks for men and from 10 weeks to 5 weeks for officers. The daily periods, however, were increased in comparison to the peace-time syllabus. Thus very few working hours were lost. Subsequently, this intensive training was never relaxed. During the War, the annual output of fully qualified instructors from the ASPT Ambala/ Kasauli reached a total of 230 officers, and 2330 other ranks.
During the Christmas of 1947, the school was moved to Poona. It was initially housed at Wanworie at Fergusson Road and then shifted to its present location in Eve’s Estate in January 1951.
Today, AIPT is alma-mater for physical and recreational training in the Army, and the mother institution of APTC. All APTC and selected personnel from all Arms and Services receive basic and advance training from this institute. In addition it has been training personnel from sister Services, Para Military Forces and friendly foreign countries.
Army Institute of Physical Training was assisted by five command PT preparatory Schools located along with Command Headquarters which were closed down in 1998 on Government orders.
Army Institute of Physical Training imparts standardised instructions on all aspects of physical and recreational training. It is constantly applying itself to evolve and develop training methods, which combine efficiency in performance with sustained interest.
References[edit]
This article "Army Physical Training Corps" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Army Physical Training Corps. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
