Indian Police - A weird phenomenon

Today, we have a blog from a guest blogger. Currently working in a prestigious multinational, "The Seeker" writes on social issues gripping the nation currently, and his unique perspective on the same.

2:10 a.m.

4th May, 2013

Bangalore/ Bengaluru/ Bengalodu (offense intended)

Here I am, sitting at home, at this hour of the day, back from office, wondering what to do in the next half an hour. Many ideas are coming like always, and are being rejected like always for some reasons. Today, one idea stuck, even after being rejected. Interestingly, the reason it stuck was the reason for which it was rejected, which has been bothering me for a while now.

I thought of taking my bike for a nice ride in the city, usually harassed with traffic throughout the day, at this opportune time when all the roads are empty and the weather is perfect. I asked my room-mate about this. 

I got a very interesting reply from him. "Sunday ko election hai, bahot police hogi". Reject.

Police, ideally commissioned for the safety of the citizens (us), earning salary out of the tax which we are giving to the Govt., is actually the reason of us being scared to go out for a bike ride and have fun. This bothers me.

Then, I realized, that this is and has been the case everywhere in our country. As soon as we see a policeman, we tend to avoid that place and take a detour. The reasons for this behavior are well known to all of us.

Police's job is make an atmosphere of safety in the country. They have succeeded in doing the exact opposite of this. In countries like USA, people feel much safer when they see a policeman nearby. They feel as long as he/she is there, nothing will harm them. They try to stick to the police officer for as long as possible.

Wouldn't that be great if this was the case here? 

There are many reforms which have been made to improve the Police's image. But, what we lack is properly trained police officers and a proper and efficient accountability system. This problem is not just in the Police department, but in practically every Public department. 

What do we do? 

Obviously, we can sit back, live life the way it is going on: in fear of the one's who are supposed to remove that. Live a life where we have to beg in front of a police officer just to register an FIR. Live a life where nothing gets done without a 100 rupee note. Live a life where we have to make 10 rounds to a Public office, rake in all the "jacks/sources/contacts" just to get a passport in 3 to 12 months. After all, these things define India, and how can we even think of changing the definition of our holy motherland which we think is the best country in the world.

And of course, we can also go live our "American Dreams".

Or,

We can introspect. Wake up. Come back to reality. Stop lying to ourselves. Do something to change it. 

Choice is ours. 

Jai Hind!