https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

An IPS Officer with a Poet’s Heart

Here is a police officer-cum-poet. IPS officer D C Rajappa not only served the country with distinction, he has written hundreds of poems which continue to enthrall the people of Karnataka and beyond.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Imagining a police officer conjures up the picture of a man with a stern look and a coarse voice in a khaki uniform, also yielding a gun and giving the impression that if the need arose, he would not hesitate to use it. Often, one stern look from him would scare away most people. Now imagine a police officer with a pen, somebody who writes poetry and talks about love and brotherhood.

The second kind of cop may be hard to imagine. But he exists in flesh and blood: in the form of DC Rajappa, who retired only last year. Today Mr. Rajappa is known more for the scintillating books on Kannada poems he wrote over the years while in service than the number of prisoners he might have sent behind bars.

A renowned Kannada poet, Mr. Rajappa believes that empathy is the guiding force for both poets and policemen. In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Rajappa opens up about his stories from the service, the inspiration behind his poetries, and also his new venture.

Mr. Rajappa believes in tackling cases humbly

Budding poet since Childhood

Mr. Rajappa’s love for poetry bloomed when he was a mere teenager. He wrote his first poem at the age of 15, in Kannada. “I read a poem titled Karisidda by a very well-known Kannada poet, Kuvempu, who has also received awards for his poems in 1968. I started enjoying poetries since then.” His early work came out so well that his mother and teachers urged him to write more.

Dr. DC Rajappa along with Dr. HSV, a famous Kannada writer

Jotting real-life experiences into verses

Poets usually take inspiration from nature or tangible objects to write their poetry, but such was not the case with Mr. Rajappa. The police officer’s poems are largely based on his own experiences, things he went through in real life while serving the nation. He took inspiration from various events that unfolded before his eyes. For instance, he recalled, his initial poems grew from the impressions he gathered in his village. He observed that several superstitions were rooted in everyone’s mind. One such superstition consisted of animal sacrifice to Gods.

“I wrote a poem on a practice called Maari where animals are sacrificed to the evil goddess Maaramma, to fulfill her appetite. Due to this practice, a number of animals were butchered in my village. But after my poem, the villagers stopped the practice.”

The personal collection of Mr. Rajappa’s poetry

The incident that stirred him

An incident that shook Mr. Rajappa from inside happened when, as the Superintendent of Police in Gulbarga district, he had to go on an accident scene where 14 people had lost their lives. What he witnessed left him emotionally scarred. He recalls, “I had managed to separate 12 dead bodies already when I encountered the last two. It was of a nine-month-old baby suckling his mother’s breast at the time of death. The sight of milk spilling out from the baby’s mouth disturbed me to my core. Not being able to take out the horrible incident from my mind, I wrote a poem called Saavu Mathu Sambrama (meaning Celebration of Death)” The poem brings forth the “irony of death’’, in the sense it does not come to those calling for it but reaches out to those who never wished for it.

Mr. Rajappa has written numerous other poems from various experiences he gained while working in the service.

Mr. Rajappa is a devoted officer and poet

Publishing his passion

Over the years, Mr. Rajappa has not just written poetries but also published them into books. He has a collection of four books, consisting of more than 500 poems, to his credit. These are titled Maari, Baradu Bhoomiya Sathyagalu, Hullu Meyuva Kudure, and Samavasthradolagondu sutthu (vol. 1, 2, 3, 4)

Mr. Rajappa is also the receiver of various awards such as the Amma award, Basava award, and Rajyashree award. He has also inspired hundreds of other police officers to pursue their creative passion and write poetry.

“The Karnataka police force has around one lakh officers, out of which more than 500 have started writing their experiences through poems! I have collected all these poems and edited them. I have been doing this work for 20 years.” said Mr. Rajappa.

‘Police Lahari’, the newly started monthly magazine

Moving towards a new venture

After his retirement, Mr. Rajappa has started an in-house publication of a monthly magazine called ‘Police Lahari’. Through this magazine, Mr. Rajappa is providing all the police officials of the country with a platform to showcase their talent and passion. This has been done for the first time in the history of the Karnataka Police.

“It will be a common platform from constable to DGPs to write poems and articles. There are several magazines and newspapers that give the opportunity to only the senior officials. If they would write something, they will publish it but nobody gives any opportunity to a lower grade constable. That’s why I launched the magazine and now everyone has an equal chance of getting their work published,” says Mr. Rajappa.

The DGP of Karnataka Police releasing ‘Police Lahari’

One doesn’t come across cop-cum-poet like Mr. Rajappa, too often. He is a one-of-a-kind person who can make the country better, through his words.

Indian Masterminds wishes Mr. Rajappa the best for all his future endeavors!


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
ACC Approves Major Reshuffle: 15 Bureaucrats, Including 12 IAS, Promoted to Additional Secy; Sudeep Jain Named NCW Member Secy
IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh IAS Anjaneya Singh
IAS Aunjaneya Singh Stays in UP, Centre Approves One-Year Extension After 48-Hour Exit
Chhattisgarh CM Investment Japan visit (3)
Chhattisgarh Woos Japanese Investors in Osaka, Signs $11.45 Million MoU with Sartaj Foods
MP Power Sector Recruitment 2025
MP CM Mohan Yadav to Distribute Appointment Letters to 1,060 Power Sector Recruits in Bhopal on August 26
UPSC Easy paper
UPSC Mains Essay Topics 2025: A Test of Thought Leadership, Not Just Writing Skills
Mumbai Chalta Hai MGL Par
MGL Launches Brand Campaign ‘Mumbai Chalta Hai, MGL Par’ to Celebrate Its Vital Role in City’s Pulse
Sonali Mishra motivates
UP Cadre IPS Sonali Mishra Inspires NCC Cadets in Bareilly, Emphasizes Power of the Uniform
NHPC Resized
NHPC’s Solar Expansion: 300 MW Bikaner Project Full Commissioning Now Due in September
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
ACC_Appointments Committee of Cabinet
ACC Approves Major Reshuffle: 15 Bureaucrats, Including 12 IAS, Promoted to Additional Secy; Sudeep Jain Named NCW Member Secy
IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh IAS Anjaneya Singh
IAS Aunjaneya Singh Stays in UP, Centre Approves One-Year Extension After 48-Hour Exit
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT