And it keeps me going….

Before joining Police Service, I had never imagined that there exists a government department which works  so much. My parents and everyone else always told me that government jobs are better because of  less work or no work, no responsibility and accountability so less stress, plenty of leaves, 100% job security and so on. I too had similar notion before becoming a Police officer.

I could never appreciate good things of my job in private sector while I was there. Today I feel that it had everything which a job should have :- 5 days week, very good salary, flexible working hours, , centrally air conditioned office, fully computerized work process, all sorts of leaves and so on. I hardly remember days when I worked on weekends or on holidays.

So now when I compare all this with my present job, It sometimes makes me  feel that why I am doing a much harder job and that too with much lesser salary. Here there is no concept of working hours as it is always 24x7. No one cares if sometimes you are working continuously for 24 hours or more but everyone will question you if you are late in reaching to a crime scene even by few minutes. Here we are still struggling for issues such as RO systems for drinking water, comfortable offices, vehicles, computers etc.  Here anytime you might be suspended for something, you might even don’t know anything about that.  

But then  I have chosen this job and I like it. This job has something different as  It gives me a chance and authority to set many things right if I feel  that they are wrong. My sincere efforts solve problems of the people and provide them relief. It gives me a chance to bring smile on the faces of the people. People coming back to us just to say ‘thanks’ when we help them is a kind of motivation and reward which is unparalleled. It is much higher a motivation than comfort of luxury offices or better salary.

 And yes, not all but there are people who recognize our efforts. This job has given me moments when people have come to me and told that they will remember me for their whole life for what I have done for them. And thats more than enough for me.

And these are few moments which keeps me going……

Panchayat Elections : Was it worth putting all these efforts??

Recent experience of Panchayat elections made me rethink about what I had read about this form of ‘decentralised democracy’ during my civil services preparation. As I recall, this was thought as a mean to ensure democracy (government of the people, by the  people and for the people ) at the lowest level of the government. It was felt that only the people of the village can decide about their development, so they should be given both resources and authority. The purpose was that capable people of the village should be made part of the village government so they can use village resources in the best possible manner. The whole system was then constitutionalised also to make it more sacrosanct.

Having all this is mind, I was exited when I got an opportunity to witness these elections recently. But the experience disappointed me as what I saw did not resemble to what I had read. At most of the places, it was ‘this community’ Vs ‘that community’. Caste or community of the candidate was a major factor in determining  how much chances he/she has of winning the election. No one seemed to be talking about or discussing about work done by any of the candidates for the development of the village.

Another interesting thing was amount of money being spent by candidates for the election. At some places it went upto several lakhs. Most of the money was spent in distributing free food and liquor. And this also was seen a major factor in deciding the winning candidate. Village people considered this an good opportunity to enjoy delicious free food and store liquor for few months.

Things don’t end here. The elections are so keenly contested that heavy police deployment is to be done to ensure law and order. There has been history of fights and sometimes even firing during these elections in the past. There has been incidencts of disrupting the polling and counting process. The Election Commission has this time introduced system of counting at Panchayat Samiti if counting is not feasible in the village due to higher probablity of violence. And remember, this all nuisance is being created by the so called innocent village people.

So where are we going. The system was introduced to give equal opportunity to everyone to become part of government but in the end, we have only the influential people. My only hope is few cases where educated young people being elected as Panch & Sarpach. I hope that success story of these villages will inspire others also to follow the same.

In the end it forced me to think, Were all efforts of administration and police were worth to ensure smooth conduct of something where neither the process nor the result were as desired….

  

'Relief' is what She wants, but will She get it ??

A recent visit to Mahila police Thana which comes under my jurisdiction raised this question in my mind. It so happened that a lady was sitting there in the garden of the Thana campus. I casually asked her that why she is here and if she has given any complain/FIR here. In reply to this,  She started telling me her story,  “I am in great trouble mam. I am married for the past 20 years and have 3 children.  My husband consumes alcohol daily and beats me up. Whatever he earns, he spends on liquor. I work in the houses and thus get some money to feed my children but this money is not enough .  I waited all these years hoping that one day he will change but nothing has happened  so far. My husband is staying in village with his parents but I don’t go there as he beats me up there. Many a time, My inlaws also have tried to intervene but he doesn’t listen to them also. At last I have come to police to get some ‘relief’ . Today I have come with witnesses as asked by the investigating officer of my case. ”. I further asked her what kind of help she wants from police and does she want to send her husband to jail. To this she replied, “ aur kya Karen. Jail me hi theek hai. Main samajh loongi ki wo hai hi nhi”. I further inquired her that what about the money part and what about her children?  She said, “that is the main problem. I am illiterate so can’t earn more. If my husband gives me 5000 Rs. per month, than rest I can earn and take care of my children. ”.

I consoled her and assured her that we will try our best to help her and will update her about the status of her case. But than I started thinking that if police could really help her and provide her ‘relief’????

At most, police may propose chargesheet against her Husband  and  the case it will go to the court. This lady has no money to hire a lawyer to represent her case. And what about the money part? For this, She will have to file one more case for maintenance money separately  and  then court may order her husband to pay some monthly amount depending upon his financial condition. It again depends on her husband whether he gives maintenance money or not and what if he does not pay?

It’s a long process and long battle for her.

Will this illiterate lady having no money and having burden of 3 children will be able to fight through all this?

She has come to police as a last option to seek some ‘relief’ but will she get it?

A Typical Day @NPA

Yesterday night I couldn’t sleep properly, but this is not new as it is happening for the past few days because each night I am worried that my phone alarm might not be able to wake me up at 5 in the morning. But somehow I am managing to wake up on time, sometimes with help of my phone alarm and rest of the times, with help of my biological clock which is now getting tuned to NPA clock. After waking up, the first thought which crosses my mind is that why I have chosen such life where even sleep has become an unaffordable luxury. But then after devoting 5-10 minutes to this thought, somehow I manage to get ready and reach downstairs for fallin for morning PT.

While going downstairs, I just feel that today I have no energy and won’t be able to do anything. But then seeing everyone else also there, gives me some strength. Rest of the strength comes from our Academy Song which is played daily in the morning at sharp 5.30AM. Morning PT in NPA is not like PT in any other academy but it is like a ceremony which is very religiously carried out daily with minute to minute precision. 

It is a good feeling after the PT as I feel that one battle has been won. But then it is not time to relax but to get ready in our uniforms for next battle which is relatively a longer and tougher one. It is 4 and half hours of indoor classes.  People who think that police means all danda and no use of mind, must come to our classes to see the advanced level of studies we are made to do here. 

NPA serves us very good lunch may be as reward for hard work done but we can’t afford to enjoy our lunch as 3 hour outdoor sessions are still left. We are made to walk and stand in scorching hot Sun, to struggle with the firearms, to do left-right and 1-2-1, to do horse riding and then to play outdoor games. With so many activities, it seems that we are doing some sort of dress rehearsal as NPA has given us various types of costumes, shoes, boots, caps and other accessories and each activity has different prescribed dress code. 

Finally all the sessions are over by 6.00 or 6.30PM and we are free but only if we are lucky. The evening might be occupied with formal dinners, some test or some public forum. And if it is free, we are expected to either go to gym or sports or swimming. The day then finally ends with dinner and some gossip and chitchat with friends. And with this our race against time also ends but only for today as we get ready to wake up at 5AM again for the next day.... 

Why choose civil services?

Why choose civil services?

 

This is the most important and most discussed question for UPSC interview. Interesting thing is to note that it is a kind of MCQ having very simple options such as public service, power, respect, money, satisfaction or some permutation - combination of all these. But still it takes months to arrive at an answer which one can present with conviction during the interview. But somehow I feel this question should have been other way round – Why not civil services?

Answer follows:

 

It all starts from the moment when your name finds mention in the UPSC merit list. The next moment is a magic moment where you are a celebrity, role model and one of the most intelligent and lucky human beings. You are then approached to share your success formula, to grace felicitation functions, to give media interviews and what not. It is like you enter in limelight from some sort of darkness. So just one exam and rest all follows.

With start of the training, this chapter ends giving way to another beautiful and amazing chapter. Probationer or OT (officer trainee) gets to enjoy unique role of officer cum student. For persons like me, it becomes even more unique giving chance of experiencing hostel life. With start of morning PT and bombardment of classes, it seems like some revolution has come in life. For many it brings 180 degree turn from all night to all day cycle and many a times, it transforms into all day walking and enjoying nature from all day sitting schedule of office during various nano, micro, short and big treks. It is tough but believe me, one gets to enjoy one of the best moments of life through all this.
 

I am sure most of the civil servants sacrifice a lot for this exam – family, friends, parties, movies, outings and much more. But don’t worry. Government is well aware of this Big sacrifice and it makes sure that each one is compensated in all the mentioned areas in the best possible manner. To give an example, I have visited more places in last one year than I had visited in rest of my entire life.

It might sound a bit arrogant to say that most of the people here are toppers from the best colleges of the country but believe me, this is true. This topper race makes many people completely zero in sports, cultural and other extracurricular things. So here, this is also taken care of and everyone becomes sports person cum stage artist by the end of the training.

This khelna koodna and naach gana is just one small part. Real learning is the gyaan given by guest speakers. This is another feel good factor when you see ministers, Parliament members and chiefs of various other organisations coming to address you and considering it as their great pleasure to get a chance to interact with us (the future of the country). It is always a great feeling being referred to as the ‘best minds of the country’ by some of the greatest people.

 

As there are always two sides of coin, this training has one other reality also. Nothing seems to be more important than sleep when you have to wake up at 5.30AM in the winters of Mussoorie and walk down more than 1 km to polo ground for PT. Life seems to be a torture when you have to attend classes for whole day and walk uphill and downhill for every single meal and that too always dressed up in formals. But I am sure that for the all good things here, anyone would agree to face these small inconveniences happily.
 

I dont know how the life will be once the training is over. I just wish, hope and believe that it will always remain like this. Besed on my experience till now, I can definitely say and you will also agree that civil services are the best. So then why not civil services.....

A visit to RAPHAEL and NIVH : Home for Differently- abled people

 Most of us or I should say all of us have this deep desire of doing something for our society especially for the vulnerable section of the society. But for some reasons, we don’t get a chance to do so, may be because we don’t know from where to start or may be because we think that our small contributions cannot make any big difference. I don’t hesitate to accept that I also used to think similarly till I got an opportunity to visit RAPHAEL and NIVH.

RAPHEL is an NGO based in Dehradoon working for the intellectually challenged people. After visiting RAPHAEL, I felt as if I have got a glimpse of some other world. Some of the children there might be undesirable and burden for their parents but members of RAPHEL put all their efforts to make sure that these children get a chance to live life with dignity, care and love. It was completely a mesmerizing experience to see children there studying, playing, dancing, making beautiful candles, stoles and paper bags, working on computers and most importantly to see them enjoying each and every moment with their friends.

Visit to NIVH(National Institute for Visually Handicapped) gave me an opportunity to look into world of visually challenged children. I am sure most of us would have never imagined that these children not only have all the books in braille form, talking books, full fledged library but also geometry box, playing cards, Cricket ball and wickets, Chess board, carom board especially designed for them.

The interaction with the students of 11^th and 12^th class at NIVH made me really feel surprised as the questions raised by them were so contemporary and relevant and also these children were so much aware and updated about everything including movies, music, politics, sports and most importantly civil services exam - future career choice of many of them.

If we try to analyse efforts of these two organisations at cost benefit parameter, we might not be able to appreciate much as working with such children demands huge efforts and patience with outputs which are never certain. But yes, considering every human life valuable even if one is physically or intellectually challenged, we can estimate significance of efforts of these organisations.

I am sure that this visit has given many of us a new direction and motivation to give shape to our desires and dreams of doing something for our society. We might not be able to make a very big difference but surely we will make difference in the lives of at least few people.

I love my language

We take pride in being called Indian and being associated with everything which is related to our country. We cherish our national symbols, our culture, our heritage and everything else even slightly related to India. But when it comes to Indian languages, things seem to be a bit complex and unclear.

 I am sure if asked what is the national language of India, majority of Indians will reply - HINDI. It may not be right 

from the constitutioal point of view but still we consider HINDI as our own languaue. Now on the other side,when  we see position of Hindi language today in our society, academics, jobs and even in day today life, we realize that how contradictory these two things are.

We all agree that English language has become the need and necessity today to pursue higher eduaction and good career in India. And more than that it has become a status symbol. Till this point it is fine but it seems very strange when I see that this language has taken place of Hindi not only in academics and formal conversations but also in day today communication. Today it is very common to find  2 North Indians talking in English even though it might be a casual conversation or gupshup.

Things can be accepted even upto this extent but one day when someone said to me that whatever we do and try but that Hindi touch will never go from our language when we speak in English. He had said this especially in respect of North Indians as people from Southern and North Eastern part of India are generally better and more fluent in English free from the 'Hindi touch'.

This made me then think that knowing a foreign language can be good but how knowing our own language can be bad. Do we really need to hide that we know Hindi or feel bad about knowing our own language?