Book Review
By Dr Satish C Aikant
Khaki Mein Sthitpragya: Ek IPS Adhikari Ki Smritiyan Evam Anubhav
By Anil Raturi
Winsar Publishing Co., Dehradun, 2024, Pages 216, Rs 325
The title of the book Khaki Mein Sthitpragya by Anil Raturi may sound apparently paradoxical. How could ‘khaki’ and ‘sthitpragya’ co-exist? If one points to the life of action the other refers to the life of contemplation. Yet a closer scrutiny brings home the truth that the two seemingly obverse facets can blend harmoniously complementing each other. This, indeed, is the import of what Krishna expounds to Arjun (Bhagavad Gita, 2 – 55). Sthitpragya is one who retains equanimity in the face of both triumph and adversity, an attitude no different from the stoics of the ancient Greece.
The author weaves a compelling narrative about his remarkable journey in the Indian Police Force. In her Foreword to the book, Radha Raturi, a distinguished civil servant in her own right (currently the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand) and wife of the author, gives a dispassionately objective assessment of her husband’s personal and professional trajectory, free of personal bias or indulgence.
After his early education in Mussoorie’s Hampton Court and St George’s College, Anil Raturi enrolled for BA English Honours in Delhi University in 1979, where he excelled both in academics and sports. He represented the Indian team in the International Hockey Tournament in 1983 in Cairo, Egypt. It was during his graduate years in the university that he happened to see the Hindi film Ardha Satya with Om Puri as the lead protagonist, a fearless, honest and upright police officer. The character left an indelible impression on the author’s mind. When he qualified for the IAS and was ranked high on the merit list, he could have easily opted for the coveted Indian Foreign Service. Instead, fired by the zeal to serve the country by staying close to the ground, he opted for the Indian Police Service. While in the Police Academy in Hyderabad, he met Radha Raturi, a fellow trainee, and the two tied the knot in 1989. Later, Radha Raturi switched her cadre from IPS to IAS.
A substantial part of Anil Raturi’s service as an IPS officer was spent in the country’s largest state, the undivided Uttar Pradesh. He witnessed first-hand the complexities of law enforcement in India’s most populous state with its diverse culture and intricate social dynamics characterised by endemic caste and religious divides and organised crime. Raturi proved equal to the task while handling all these issues.
Shortly after he was posted as ASP, Bareilly, the author had to deal with the farmers’ agitation in Western UP led by the formidable Mahendra Singh Tikait. With meticulous planning, Tikait was arrested which raised a huge political storm. The negotiations between the protesting farmers and the ruling and opposition leaders came about but the police had to bear the brunt of the public wrath. As politics played out, several police personnel were to be suspended for their alleged highhandedness in dealing with the protesters. The suspension however was averted due to the intervention and sagacity of the SSP, Bareilly.
When the Mandal Commission report was released in 1990, it sparked widespread protests and violence across India. Lucknow was a hotspot of agitations. As SP-City, Lucknow, Raturi worked relentlessly with senior officers, intelligence agencies and community leaders to mitigate potential flashpoints.
Close on the heels of the Mandal agitation came the Ramjanmabhumi Movement. Raturi then was SP-City, Lucknow. On 5th December 1992, a crucial meeting of the authorities was held to deal with the impending communal situation, as kar-sevaks from all over were marching to Ayodhya. As the fateful day came, suddenly the news spread that all three domes of the Babri Mosque had been vandalised and demolished. The news was stunning. The Central Government promptly dismissed the state government and curfew was imposed in Lucknow in view of the deteriorating law and order situation. As communal tensions ran high amidst apprehension of widespread violence, Raturi was tasked with restoring order which he succeed in bringing about. At one point, as he ran ahead of his force to plunge into the mob, he was stopped by a thoughtful constable. Just then a shot was fired into his vehicle and an iron splinter hit his helmet. A crude bomb was hurled by some miscreant and Raturi had a providential escape as the helmet saved him. Another shot from a desi pistol hit his body protector. Within a span of twenty-four hours, he had escaped two attempts on his life.
After a protracted legal battle, the Supreme Court brought closure to the dispute by conceding the Janmabhumi to the Hindu side. The verdict was generally welcomed though it was also seen as guided more by faith than legalistic niceties. What came as a big relief though is that a major communal flashpoint ceased to exist.
There is a common perception, not wholly unfounded, that police and bureaucracy in upper echelons are often amenable to political pressure. But there are honourable exceptions like Raturi, who are guided by the rule book and can act without fear or favour. In the wake of the communal outbreak following the demolition of the Babri Mosque when Raturi was the SP-City, Lucknow, a rich and influential man, the mastermind behind the riots, was apprehended. The man in question had the backing of those in power including the Governor of the state, who called up Raturi to set the culprit free and not take any action against him. Intent upon discharging his professional obligations, Raturi defied the verbal order to ensure that the rule of law prevailed. Such dedication to duty however does not come without significant personal cost. The author shrugs off life’s vagaries with sardonic dismissal. In fact, during his tenure in the police service, he rubbed quite a few politicians the wrong way. At one point he even annoyed a DIG who wanted the transfer of a few senior officers on grounds that betrayed his caste prejudice. Raturi understandably declined to do the bidding.
After a series of transfer postings and having had more than his share of dealing with riots, terrorism and communal violence, the author got some relief when he was appointed SP, Railways (Jhansi). But just when he thought life had begun to settle into a rhythm, he received his transfer order. The then Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, having known about his skilful handling of critical situations entrusted Raturi with the charge of SSP, Azamgarh.
In 1994, when the movement for a separate state of Uttarakhand was at its peak, the state DGP wanted Raturi to be posted in Muzaffarnagar which somehow did not materialise. Raturi heaved a sigh of relief for it saved him the ethical quandary of a showdown with protesting mobs that took an ugly turn resulting in the shooting of protesters and molestation of the womenfolk by policemen – the incident that came to be known as the infamous Rampur Tiraha Kand.
Subsequently, Raturi was deputed for a four-year term to the National Police Academy, Hyderabad, where he served on its faculty. During his tenure in the Police Academy, he imparted rigorous training to the police personnel, several of them from other countries. During this period, he also got an opportunity to get training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre in Georgia, USA.
The culmination of the Uttarakhand Movement resulted in the creation of the new state on 9 November 2000. The author opted to serve the state which also comprises his native land. Of course, the transition brought new challenges unique to the state. He helped found and organise the state police navigating the complex web of politics and policing with remarkable skill and succeeded in creating a cadre of dedicated police men and women. After serving close to two decades, he was made the Director General of Police in 2017 in which position he retired from the force in 2020.
Throughout his career, the author has been an inspiring mentor to countless junior officers. His guidance and wisdom helped shape the next generation of police leaders, as his experience offers valuable insights for policymakers and law enforcement agencies.
It is Radha Raturi who has been a steady moral anchor to the author as both followed a parallel and deeply intersecting and mutually supportive journey in the civil service. The memoir says it all.
(The reviewer is former Professor and Head of the Department of English, HNB Garhwal University, and former Fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla)
