The Rashtriya Indian Military College at Dehradun was inaugurated as the Prince of Wales' Royal Indian Military College on 13 March 1922 by Edward, the Prince of Wales, who was later King Edward VIII of Great Britain. Based on demands made by India's nascent freedom movement for Indian Officers to lead Indian troops, the founding of  the College paved the way for young Indian lads to become commissioned officers of India's defence services.

The RIMC was the first public school of India set up on the lines of Eton and Harrow, for a small  number  of  carefully  selected boys. It has even now retained its characteristics of being a cradle of excellence, leadership  and  bravery.

It is a feeder institution to the National Defence Academy and the Academies of the three defence services. The finest leaders of men have passed out of its portals.

Hardly comprising 0.15 per cent of the annual officer intake  in the Indian armed forces, they have provided three Army chiefs and one Air chief in India; two Air  chiefs and one Army chief in Pakistan besides  numerous Army commanders, corps commanders, diplomats, and top  grade  professionals  in both India and Pakistan over the last 50 years  since  independence.  The  country's first recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War II, Second Lieutenent (Later Lieutenent General) PS Bhagat and free India's first Param Vir Chakra of the Kashmir War of 1947, Major Somnath Sharma were both alumni of the  RIMC.

In the sphere  of sports  and  adventure activities, so important for building character, the RIMC has excelled at all India levels. The College squash team has more than once been the national champions in the under 16 category. In soccer, the college team remains one of the top few. The young cadets have taken to diversified disciplines such as mountaineering, white-water rafting, naval cruises, desert safaries, hot air ballooning, mountain cycling and para sailing. Notable among recent mountaineering achievements has been the successful summiting of Mount Kedar Naih Dome (6830 M) by four boys, thus setting a World Record for the youngest to scale such a height. 'The Cradle of Excellence' has produced three Arjuna Award Winners comprising a leader of MI. Everest expedition; participants of the renowned round the world sailing expedition on the yacht Trishna and in Squash.

To mark the Platinum Jubilee of the RIMC the Department of Post is proud to issue a commemorative postage stamp  on the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India