Hats off to the Hinjewadi Police!!!

Last Friday (21st Nov 2008) I along with a friend of mine had an altercation with the local police (Hinjewadi). Although the mistake was ours, as we didn’t have the relevant documents, but I was highly surprised with the calm and composed behavior of the police personnel.
From all the experience I’ve had since childhood, especially in Delhi, I know one thing for sure.. never raise your voice even against the lowest ranked police, else you are in for a big trouble.
But last week’s incident was truly a learning experience. My friend inspite of being on the wrong side of the law was behaving rudely with the police officers (as we all generally do). But to my utmost surprise, the constables and officers were not perturbed a bit and displayed exemplary behavior.
The fine for our mistake was Rs 1000/- but the Sub-Inspector (PSI) thought of giving us another chance, inspite of our rude behavior and fined us only Rs 100/- (this was not a bribe, as he gave us an official govt receipt).
He even made us sit in his office for about 15-20 minutes and explained to us the virtue of talking politely.
We later learned that he was a President Medal awardee in 2006 for his exemplary police service. I was not surprised a bit.
Later that night I shot off a letter to the Editor of Pune Mirror (local newspaper) highlighting the incident. And to my delight it was published in Sunday’s edition of the paper (attached)!!!! We carried the paper to that very PSI and showed him the article. He was on the moon to say the least that atleast someone appreciates the work done by police. He took the Xerox of the article for his perusal and thanked us umpteen number of times. Even the constables were happy that their work is getting recognition.
Such small gestures go a long way in boosting the morale of the police and government officials. What I felt was that their job is very thankless; they have to deal with hundreds of people from varied backgrounds every day, and yet be in the same spirits all the time. If I were to do the same job, I would have given up long time back!!
So here’s to the Police officials of India, for their inspired work culture with the least expectations of rewards, let alone awards!!!!!

Whom else do you think they could have made Chief?

He was in his office at Fort William, Calcutta, when the news was conveyed to him by General Kumaramangalam. He hastened home and told Mrs. Manekshaw who happened, at that time, to be reading in bed. Without taking her eyes off the book she was reading, she muttered a brief ‘congratulations’. Irked, he asked her if that was the only reaction she could display. To which cam the classic retort : “Sam, whom else do you think they could have made Chief?”

By now, I’m sure you must have guessed who is being referred to above. Yes, it is the one and only Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Recently I got hold of a book by Lt.Gen Depinder Singh on Sam. This is supposed to be a biography on Sam Bahadur, but after having read about a 100 odd pages, it looks more like a recount of the incidents, or rather encounters between the writer and the protagonist, sprinkled here and there with some major events in Sam’s life.
The most endearing trait of Sam’s personality was the ease with which he handled his jawans and the political leadership. It surely required guts and conviction for someone to confront the firebrand PM Mrs. Indira Gandhi .

His humorous side is more apparent to the people, as he was always seen joking around with everyone around at any event. His ready wit is a thing of folklore's. Some of his most famous quotes are as follows:
"Gentlemen, I have arrived and there will be no withdrawal without written orders and these orders shall never be issued" -During 1962 war, when he was sent to North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) to command retreating Indian forces against the Chinese force
"If anyone tells you he is never afraid, he is a liar or he is a Gurkha."- On the Gurkha Battalion of the Indian Army.
"I'm always ready, sweetie,"- 1971 war, on being asked by Indira Gandhi about the Indian Army's readiness.

I’ll probably have more to write when I complete the book. Till then Jai Hind!!