20121031

Perform your duty and be a hero


In my childhood the Super Heroes like Superman, Spider Man and Indian versions like Super Commando Dhruva, Nagraj, Doga etc fascinated me and I dearly wished to be one of them, like every child of my age. I longed to do extra ordinary stuff - flying like superman, stop a running train with my bare hands, pin the bad guys at top of the tallest tower of the city. I wanted to be the real hero of the city.

As I grew up with the time I realized super hero action could be the peculiar fantasy of a child, but it was not a realistic aim. I used to think about doing something extra ordinary to grab the attention of people that would elevate me to the status of a hero overnight.
But my misapprehension about becoming a caped crusader, a lone hero performing extra ordinary work etc quickly disappeared with the recent episode of the episode of a young IPS officer Swapan Sharma (Assistant Police Commissioner of Traffic, Ludhiana) who had become a real life hero of my city. The young officer was extremely fair and square and devoted to his duty and vision. 
He initiated tow-away drive in the city to punish reckless drivers who used to create problems by parking their cars carelessly anywhere on the road. Though the tow-away drive was criticized by some, it was hugely appreciated by the masses. His initiative made Ludhiana a safer place to drive in. He busted gangs who roamed fearlessly and executed misdeeds by using political connections and by flashing money as bribes to stop any legal actions.

Swapan Sharma took a strong stand, and made these offences count. Initiating a drive against assembled and illegal three-wheelers, a major headache for the city, was another feather in his cap.

What Sharma did, was not one bit 'extra ordinary' - but part of his role as an honest policeman which he performed to perfection. He became a hero, and the city folk were jubilant that someone was finally enforcing the law. People viewed his actions as extra ordinary. Rarely do bureaucrats (or govt. officials in any rank) perform their actual duties and take any initiative, or if they do, they quickly give up before the will of corrupt politicians higher up in the food chain.

It is determination of the young IPS and commitment towards his duty that he became a real life hero for the city in days. In September people were shocked as his transfer orders landed in the city police headquarters. The news has evoked a response in the residents of this city who love and admire Swapan Sharma for his conduct and courage. The official pages of Ludhiana police and Ludhiana traffic police on facebook were flooded with messages of people that want him to remain in the city to carry out his good work.

Fortunately Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister was in the city on that particular day. Several delegations of city denizens pleaded before the CM for a rethink on the decision of transferring the young officer. The CM graciously nodded and immediately cancelled the transfer orders.

Well, news of his transfer had also pinched me a little. I wanted him to remain and to continue reforming the dilapidated condition of traffic control, to improve conditions for everyone who lives and commutes in Ludhiana.

As far my memory goes, in my 12 years of journalism I have rarely filed any news item personally appreciating the good conduct of a cop, but being a regular critic I do appreciate good work when I see it. In September 2012, I wrote an article in the local pages of The Hindustan Times about his ‘ordinary’ extra ordinary work and gave him a moniker ‘the tow-away man’. Long may this superhero 'tow away man' continue to tow away the negative and corrupt elements of policing in my city, and may I have many more opportunities to salute his courage, good sense, and honest integrity.

20121026

Jaspal Bhatti - my family member and that of the entire nation


I rarely find time to pen down my thoughts or should I say I prefer to kill time by playing games on my laptop instead of giving shape to my thoughts. The fact is I get mentally drained after beating the keyboard for atleast 5 hours daily to file news, thanks to the police and criminal elements of Ludhiana. I do love to write but never realise my plans in the evenings because of tiredness. I am composing this piece sitting at my desk in my office. I want to write about the sudden demise of Mr Jaspal Bhatti that has left us all in shock. Many eminent writers have written about him and I have read plenty articles about the satirist. Will it matter if I write about him? I asked myself several times and finally I started writing this piece about him. I know it does not matter if I write about him holding the rank of a reporter. But somehow, I want to express my own grief and love towards Sardar of jokes and satire. Well I did get a chance to interact with Sardar Bhatti in 2010 in a hotel. He was in Ludhiana to select the cast for his next venture and he had called a press conference. I was working with a vernacular daily at the time. I reached the venue in time and saw Bhatti was preparing for the press conference. Some arrangements for the press conference were ongoing. Bhatti welcomed us and joked about his staff comparing them with our lazy system. I loved his way with words and to be honest I really wished the press conference would get delayed as I wanted a chance to spend more time with him. I wanted to talk to him about Jaspal Bhatti the man, and not just the news piece I was meant to be reporting on. When I posed some questions, he answered them with his honesty and his trademark comic touch. The press conference set was finally ready and he promised to give me time afterwards.I stared at the face that was entertaining us and making us laugh since my childhood. How simple and down to earth he was. “You seem to me like a cherished family member - I feel like I have seen you since I was a child,”I said to Sardar Bhatti. He replied genuinely that’s why you love me so much. “Yes, we all are one family,” Sardar Bhatti put his hand on my shoulders.Then he asked me about my background. He asked me where did I come from, and how many years was I in this profession etc. He complimented me and said I should try auditioning for TV serials and films. I smiled and said "yes ofcourse Bhatti Saab, I will do". Later, I requested a photo with him. He said sure and smiled towards the camera putting his hand around my waist. Click… clicks the camera sounds and he moved towards other scribes. "Bhatti Saab, I want some more time with you", I said. He smiled and replied, "yes do come at any time I am staying in hotel do come at any time". I got the sad news about his demise at around 6 am this Thursday. I used to sleep till 8.30 generally, but I left my bedside as soon as I heard the news. I was anxious and restless, feeling uncomfortable. I had been praying to God to add some more years to his life, but it seems God 'unheard' my pleas. A rumor that spread in late 2011 (largely due to social media) that the whole world would end in 2012 has stuck my mind. There was something true in the rumor, I thought. Even though the world is not finished but those that keep my world moving have left… Dara Singh, Rajesh Khanna, Shammi Kapoor, Jagjit SinghYash Chopra and now Jaspal Bhatti…