Duty, sacrifice, and the law: Time for police to realise their true role

By Ravulapati Seetaramarao

Every year, October 21 serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

On this occasion, a memory comes to my mind when I think of my earlier profession. During police training, when we were attached to the Army as part of our training, a Major, while talking to us, said something noteworthy. He reminded us that while the Army defends the country against enemies beyond its borders, the police protect the lives and property of people within those borders from those who seek to harm them.

The sacrifices made by these two services are always memorable. During wartime, the Army makes greater sacrifices, while in times of peace, the police make continuous sacrifices. Hearing those profound words from the Major made me realise how great the police service is.

Once, while I was in Hyderabad serving as DCP, I happened to pass by the Nallakunta Shankar Mutt, when an evening spiritual gathering was about to begin. Curious, I stopped to listen from outside, and then peered into the premises. The manager, who recognised me, urged, “Come in, come in! You should also participate and share a message.”

I have developed the habit of not shying away from such situations, especially when elders are speaking. So, after repeated requests, I agreed to speak. “You all are renowned scholars, greatly spiritually advanced! What message can I give you? But I’ll try to present my best thought”. Everyone gathered there smiled and clapped in encouragement.

I continued: “All the scholars present here have studied and imbibed the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. In my professional experience, the Gita gives a powerful message to the police. Many may not know this. At the very start of the Kurukshetra war, when Arjuna looked toward his own relatives, his family, his countrymen, and those who had stood up to fight, he wondered: Shall I fight these people, my own kin? Shall I not fight them and abandon my weapons, get down from the chariot?”

Krishna answered: “Indeed, all of them are your kin and friends. You say you won’t fight your own people! That cannot be right. To protect dharma, you must not step back, and you must fight them—this is your duty.”

Every police officer faces situations similar to those faced by Arjuna, day in and day out. Their own relatives, friends, and acquaintances may sometimes turn into opponents. When the time comes to uphold their duty, they must stand firm, and if needed, be ready to lay down their lives for those they protect.

Krishna’s message in the Bhagavad Gita, recalled by all those in the police profession, is an awareness that has since been pondered upon by various spiritual thinkers. Viewed through a spiritual lens, serving in the police can be a means of personal elevation and an opportunity to excel in their duties.

Soldiers know who their real enemies are. For police, however, the situation is different. They must stand by their own—on the streets guarding law and order. Those they encounter in the discharge of their duties may, at any moment, turn adversarial. That is why we must remember the brave police officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

At present, there is a growing perception that the police are slowly becoming answerable to those in positions of power rather than to the people and the law. Before this attitude spreads its tentacles throughout the department, it is time for the police to shed such misplaced loyalties and become answerable to the law and discharge their duties in the interest of the people.

The police are one of the main organs of the government as they enforce the law and represent the government to the common man. The police should realise this and get back to their original role in democracy.

(The author is a retired IPS officer)