For a Malayali, K.P is not Kevin Pietersen, but their very own Kerala Police. The force is currently celebrating their "50 years with the people". Polite but Firm is the motto of this force. There is no question on the firmness, as many have found out from their lathies. But politeness is very much debatable. I am sure that the guy who thought up this inspiring motto must have been a visionary - it must have been his vision of the Kerala Police in 2050.
Every Malayali must have had their own share of experiences with the force. In this special year, let me narrate my experiences with the Kerala Police. I am a middle class Malayali and has no claims to any special treatment by the Police. So it struck me that my experiences with the force would mirror how an average Malayali sees the Police.
My first memories of the Police are centered around the trouser-clad
constables who used to be seen around the temple of my home town, Tripunithura, especially during the festival season. As a child, I was scared of the Police. I think every child in the state probably still is. I remember an incident from my childhood, wherein for some reason, my cousin Nandini chechi and I threw balls of cow dung at Raman Nair, a person who used to work for us. Raman Nair told us that he is going to complain to the Police and will have us arrested. As he went outside, we followed him and saw that smart man talk to a constable who was having tea in a shop near the temple. I remember running back home to my father and admitting the sin committed. Even though the Police did not turn up, that incident stopped my attacks on Raman Nair. In short, as a child my impression about the Police was that they would arrest anybody who wrongs others. This was a notion that changed as I grew up.
I did not have anything to do with the Police throughout my early childhood. But later, as I started going around by myself, I started running into the force once in a while. I remember the Police man who stopped me as I was returning from a second show at night. I was treated to a good amount of foul language before I could find the cinema ticket to prove that I was telling the truth. This was my introduction to the official Police language. My introduction to the Police lathi was equally, if not more, unpleasant. I was standing in a queue in front of a cinema ticket counter on a day of huge rush. A sudden unexpected push propelled me out of the queue. I was trying to get back into my rightful place in the queue when a Police man came running and hit me with his lathi. The guy thought I was trying to get into the queue illegally. Who would try to argue with a Police man when he is wielding the lathi, and so I had to go back home without watching the movie.
The only time that I have been to a Police station is on a traffic offense. I was caught breaking a one way rule in the city of Kochi. I was working in Bangalore at that time. I was used to the Bangalore Traffic Police who used to settle all traffic offenses for Rs.100. But this Police Flying Squad that caught me refused to acknowledge my hints at a bribe and sent me to the Police Station to pay a fine. Maybe it was a month end and the Police wanted to meet their target of traffic offenses, but still I cherish this incident as a time when the Kerala Police stuck to their duty.
I have had several other occasions to deal with the Kerala Police after I decided to return to my home state. Another incident that I will always remember is when I was sitting on the steps of the Museum building in Trivandrum with Renju, my dear wife, but a little before our marriage. We were watching some photographs and two people came to us and told that we have to leave the place where we were sitting. I, feeling very protective, asked him why and was told that he was a Police man in mufti (disguise) and I was supposed to obey him. I asked him for an ID proving that he was a Police man and he got enraged. It ended in him taking us to another guy who showed me an ID stating that he was a Sub Inspector. They threatened us that we will not be able to do anything if we were detained in the Police station for the night. I was also told never to ask a Police man for his identity card!
Every Malayali who drives a vehicle is familiar with the infamous Police escort to the VIPs. The Police jeep that goes at ultra high speed in front of the VIP convoys, blaring its horn and shouting at people to get off the road. We are also familiar with the Highway Police who goes at a speed of 40 km/hour or less on crowded highways creating a large queue of vehicles behind them. What a contrast! That is Kerala Police for you.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the print media wrote a lot about the Police. Some said they should be trained on proper language (we thought they would have learned that in school!). Some said the lock-up beatings need to be stopped. Still others said the high speed convoys ought to be abolished. In fifty years, the Police have grown to be the pet hate of the media. At least, everybody agrees that there is a need for change.
The Police in India was created by the British to control and oppress the native Indians. Subconsciously, all the Police forces in India still have that in their blood. Changing a mere logo does not really change the mindset of a force burdened by the legacy of its history. On the year of the 50th anniversary of the force, we need to introspect and see where the force is going. We are a free democratic country on the threshold of huge development and we need to have a Police that provides public service as opposed to intimidation. We need a Police force that is professional, accountable and has the right weapons as well as the mandate to use them. We need a Police whom the people trust, and not fear.
There is a famous quote - "You cannot teach an old dog, new tricks". So the solution could be to create a new force with a goal suited to present and slowly phase out the current system that has outlived its time. Maybe, I am being too paranoid, but it's time we started debating on what sort of Police force will protect our kids when their time comes.
Every Malayali must have had their own share of experiences with the force. In this special year, let me narrate my experiences with the Kerala Police. I am a middle class Malayali and has no claims to any special treatment by the Police. So it struck me that my experiences with the force would mirror how an average Malayali sees the Police.
My first memories of the Police are centered around the trouser-clad
constables who used to be seen around the temple of my home town, Tripunithura, especially during the festival season. As a child, I was scared of the Police. I think every child in the state probably still is. I remember an incident from my childhood, wherein for some reason, my cousin Nandini chechi and I threw balls of cow dung at Raman Nair, a person who used to work for us. Raman Nair told us that he is going to complain to the Police and will have us arrested. As he went outside, we followed him and saw that smart man talk to a constable who was having tea in a shop near the temple. I remember running back home to my father and admitting the sin committed. Even though the Police did not turn up, that incident stopped my attacks on Raman Nair. In short, as a child my impression about the Police was that they would arrest anybody who wrongs others. This was a notion that changed as I grew up.I did not have anything to do with the Police throughout my early childhood. But later, as I started going around by myself, I started running into the force once in a while. I remember the Police man who stopped me as I was returning from a second show at night. I was treated to a good amount of foul language before I could find the cinema ticket to prove that I was telling the truth. This was my introduction to the official Police language. My introduction to the Police lathi was equally, if not more, unpleasant. I was standing in a queue in front of a cinema ticket counter on a day of huge rush. A sudden unexpected push propelled me out of the queue. I was trying to get back into my rightful place in the queue when a Police man came running and hit me with his lathi. The guy thought I was trying to get into the queue illegally. Who would try to argue with a Police man when he is wielding the lathi, and so I had to go back home without watching the movie.
The only time that I have been to a Police station is on a traffic offense. I was caught breaking a one way rule in the city of Kochi. I was working in Bangalore at that time. I was used to the Bangalore Traffic Police who used to settle all traffic offenses for Rs.100. But this Police Flying Squad that caught me refused to acknowledge my hints at a bribe and sent me to the Police Station to pay a fine. Maybe it was a month end and the Police wanted to meet their target of traffic offenses, but still I cherish this incident as a time when the Kerala Police stuck to their duty.
I have had several other occasions to deal with the Kerala Police after I decided to return to my home state. Another incident that I will always remember is when I was sitting on the steps of the Museum building in Trivandrum with Renju, my dear wife, but a little before our marriage. We were watching some photographs and two people came to us and told that we have to leave the place where we were sitting. I, feeling very protective, asked him why and was told that he was a Police man in mufti (disguise) and I was supposed to obey him. I asked him for an ID proving that he was a Police man and he got enraged. It ended in him taking us to another guy who showed me an ID stating that he was a Sub Inspector. They threatened us that we will not be able to do anything if we were detained in the Police station for the night. I was also told never to ask a Police man for his identity card!
Every Malayali who drives a vehicle is familiar with the infamous Police escort to the VIPs. The Police jeep that goes at ultra high speed in front of the VIP convoys, blaring its horn and shouting at people to get off the road. We are also familiar with the Highway Police who goes at a speed of 40 km/hour or less on crowded highways creating a large queue of vehicles behind them. What a contrast! That is Kerala Police for you.On the occasion of the anniversary, the print media wrote a lot about the Police. Some said they should be trained on proper language (we thought they would have learned that in school!). Some said the lock-up beatings need to be stopped. Still others said the high speed convoys ought to be abolished. In fifty years, the Police have grown to be the pet hate of the media. At least, everybody agrees that there is a need for change.
The Police in India was created by the British to control and oppress the native Indians. Subconsciously, all the Police forces in India still have that in their blood. Changing a mere logo does not really change the mindset of a force burdened by the legacy of its history. On the year of the 50th anniversary of the force, we need to introspect and see where the force is going. We are a free democratic country on the threshold of huge development and we need to have a Police that provides public service as opposed to intimidation. We need a Police force that is professional, accountable and has the right weapons as well as the mandate to use them. We need a Police whom the people trust, and not fear.
There is a famous quote - "You cannot teach an old dog, new tricks". So the solution could be to create a new force with a goal suited to present and slowly phase out the current system that has outlived its time. Maybe, I am being too paranoid, but it's time we started debating on what sort of Police force will protect our kids when their time comes.
2 comments:
Gd write up Dilipa..
Reminded me some of my experiences with KP.
First is going to the Kalamasserry AR camp with one of my neighbours. that was a gd experience.
During the degree era, studying in Saritha Savitha got cained by KP while getting into the queue for Dilwale Dulhaniya for the first day first show.. Did not remove my shirt infront of my parents or brother for 2 months to hide the mark
Another incident..
After the infosys interview, I was returning home at 2am. The flying squad caught me. The could not digest the fact that I was having the job interview after mid night..
Following your strict orders.."NO COMMENTS" :)
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