By Anil Raturi
Many decades ago, as a young IPS officer, I was posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) in charge of an important district near Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh (UP).
The newly appointed State Police Chief, the DGP of UP, was on an inspection tour of the districts of the province.
He had recently come back to the State after a long period of deputation to the Government of India.
It was obvious that by conducting inspections of various District Police formations, he intended to apprise himself about the status of policing at the grassroots and also reiterate the importance of professionalism amongst the rank and file.
Being young at that time and, as yet, only in my second district as in charge, I was naturally anxious about the DGP’s impending inspection of my district.
I often telephonically spoke to the SPs whose districts had already been inspected by the DGP.
I gathered information in order to learn from their experience so as to be better prepared for the important inspection.
All the officers reported that he was both strict, as well as a very hard task master!
The DGP’s headquarters was stationed in Lucknow. While going out on inspections of the adjoining districts, the DGP travelled by road in his official car.
Soon the day for the inspection of my district came. The official programme of the DGP’s visit mentioned that he would be arriving in my district in the morning, traveling from the neighbouring district, where after inspection, the previous day, he would be halting for the night.
His schedule for my district mentioned that he would also be addressing the students of the local postgraduate college in the forenoon and, therefore, his inspection would commence only in the afternoon after lunch.
The DGP’s office had intimated that the he would be coming in his uniform on arrival, and that he would need a place to change into “mufti” (plain clothes) for going to the local college for the proposed interaction with students. Accordingly,
I made arrangements for the DGP’s stay at the local PWD Dak Bungalow.
The local District Magistrate (DM) was a good friend of mine. He had initially joined the Provincial Civil Service (PCS) and after decades of service had been promoted to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). His superannuation was just a couple of years away when he was appointed as the DM of my district. Being a cultured Shia Muslim gentleman, his manner was very refined. His friendly nature made him affable. We got along famously and often visited each other’s houses along with our spouses for meals.
A few days before the DGP’s tour, while sipping tea with the DM, I told him about the proposed visit.
Since he was many years older than me, in our conversations, I used to address him as “bhaisahab”, while he used to call me “partner”.
On learning about the DGP’s visit he said, “Partner, I would like to be with you at the PWD Dak Bungalow so that we can receive the DGP together.”
I was happy to hear that, as I thought the DGP would be suitably impressed seeing the DM and SP together, because good relations between the two officers was considered healthy for maintaining law and order.
On the appointed day, we learnt through the wireless that the DGP’s fleet was about to arrive at the Dak Bungalow. The DM and I ensured that we reached the Dak Bungalow a few minutes before the arrival of the VIP.
I was wearing a clean, ironed and sparkling ceremonial uniform, while the DM was dressed in the customary buttoned up black coat and trousers, the appropriate formal attire for civilian officers.
When the DGP’s fleet entered the Dak Bungalow, the DM and I were standing in the portico.
As soon as the VIP vehicle halted, the traffic constable opened the door of the car. The DGP, who was in uniform, emerged. He was a tall man. He had a stern and intimidating expression on his face.
I clicked my heels smartly and gave him my best salute. The DM very gracefully folded his hands to offer the raditional “namaskar” to him.
Gesturing towards the DM, I attempted to formally introduce him to the DGP saying, “Sir, he is the District Magistrate…”
Before I could finish, the DGP, without saying anything or even acknowledging our greetings, briskly marched into the guest house. He also ignored the ceremonial guard mounted in his honour.
Normally on such occasions the senior visiting officer shakes hands with the officers who receive him and after exchange of pleasantries, reviews the guard of honour.
However, in this instance the DGP’s manner was uncustomarily brusque. Not only did he not shake our hands, rather his demeanour seemed to suggest that he didn’t even register our existence.
I was crestfallen at the unfortunate turn of events.
The DM and I followed the DGP into the hall of the guest house. Seeing the three of us inside, the “chaprasi” of the guest house immediately opened the door of the suite earmarked for the VIP.
Without talking to us, the DGP quickly vanished into the room, banging the door behind him!
The DM and I were surprised by the peremptory conduct of the DGP. So, taken aback, we quietly sat on the hall sofa without exchanging a word between ourselves.
We presumed that the DGP must be changing his attire for the college function, hence we sat patiently waiting for him.
I was astounded by the DGP’s uncivil manner, but more than that, I was particularly distraught about how my genial colleague, the DM, had been treated. Even though the laid down protocol didn’t require his presence, yet motivated by a sense of team spirit, he had himself volunteered to accompany me. Being a uniformed man I was familiar with the streak of high handedness that was prevalent in some officers of the organisation.
However, I felt very sorry for my good friend, the DM, who because of me had to endure an unpleasant experience, which otherwise, he could have easily avoided.
Immersed in such thoughts, I was sitting with the DM, facing the door of DGP’s room, waiting for him to come out. After we had been so brooding for about ten minutes, we saw the door of his room suddenly open and the DGP walking out.
Strangely, he was attired in a white vest (baniyan) and a long striped, cotton, stitched underwear (the traditional string underwear-colloquially referred to as “lathey ka kaccha”)!
Barefoot, hands crossed, he was walking very slowly out of the room!
He seemed to be in deep thought and his eyes were focused somewhere faraway!
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he seemed to be completely oblivious about both of us watching him intently!
He walked about half a dozen steps to reach the centre of the room.
Beholding the unusual sight, the DM and I, for a moment became confused about what was really happening!
Just when we were desperately trying to muster our wits to make some sense of the unfolding spectacle, the DGP’s eyes came to focus on us!
Surprised to see us, he suddenly jumped up and made an about turn!
The next moment we saw him bolting back into his room, banging the door behind him once again!
Before I could react, the DM on a reflex uttered in Awadhi, “Ain! Yeh kya tha?!” (“Oh what was this?!”)
We conjectured that the DGP had probably intended to visit the bathroom attached to the suite, but in a state of absent mindedness had by mistake opened the wrong door!
Later, when the DGP finally came out in formal clothes for proceeding to the local college, his manner had magically undergone a complete transformation.
He seemed to be a different man. There was no discernible disdain in him anymore. On the contrary, in a very friendly tone he asked us,
“Is it time for me to proceed to the college?”
After shaking hands with both of us, he not only thanked the DM for coming to meet him, but in a very polite manner also requested him to return to his office.
Subsequently, during the entire course of inspection also he was a paradigm of congeniality!
In fact, my inspection went off very well!
After his departure, whenever the DM and I recalled the incident, we used burst into laughter!
Can a moment of unintended public display of one’s undergarments be so transformative, that it can miraculously usher in the elusive “nirvana?”
(Anil Raturi is a retired IPS officer and former Uttarakhand DGP.)
