People

THE AUDACITY OF HOPE
By Sanjay Pinto

February 18, 2024

At the Greater Chennai Police Headquarters, this weekend, a scene almost straight out of the hit film “12th Fail” unfolded. The son of an auto driver and fruit vendor who is preparing for the Civil Services Examination, had gone to lodge a complaint with the cyber crime wing. In a eureka moment, as I felt that a handshake with the top cop would do wonders to the young IPS aspirant’s morale, a la real life Manoj Kumar Sharma, IPS, I put in a word to the Commissioner of Police.

Within minutes, Mohan Kumar got a call from the Commissioner’s camp clerk and asked to come up to the 8th floor to meet the big boss at lunch time. Not only did this youngster get a pep talk and tips to clear the examination, he was also given a gift and allowed to have a photograph clicked with Sandeep Rai Rathore, IPS, whose disarming smile spoke a thousand words.

(Pic: Mohan Kumar receiving a gift from the Chennai Police Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore, IPS. His father Ramamurthy is also seen)

With the skin of their teeth, Mohan’s parents had dug into their meagre savings to fund his Engineering education. Having been a victim of discrimination and apathy since his adolescent years, this graduate has been hellbent on changing the system by joining it. That’s how his IPS dream took shape. Ensconced behind his mother’s fruit stall in Alwarpet, Mohan can be seen studying under street lights with the hope of a brighter tomorrow. Former IAS Officer Israel Jebasingh had magnanimously given this deserving candidate free coaching at his Officers IAS Academy.
A few years ago, when a fire had engulfed a photo studio in the vicinity, it was Mohan’s alertness and his call to 101 that helped limit the damage. When I informed the then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mylapore, V.Balakrishanan, IPS (Now Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore) he had immediately arranged for a cash award to recognise the youngster’s good deed.

Quite like that rural lad in Vidu Vinod Chopra’s flick, Mohan is now enthused to keep the fire in his belly intact to get those 3 magical letters after his name. And his appointment with the Police Commissioner will remain a red-letter day in his life.