Meet Dr. C Sylendra Babu, Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police, who rose from being a backbencher to becoming an IPS officer. His journey is no less than a roller coaster filled with all sorts of adventures.
Today, Indian Masterminds will take you through the life and works of the DGP and how he reached the peak of the police fraternity.
EARLY LIFE
The 59-year-old DGP of Tamil Nadu Police, Mr. Babu is an IPS officer of the 1987 batch from the Tamil Nadu cadre. He completed his early schooling at a government school in the district, Kuzhithurai. His childhood dream was to become a doctor and serve people and society.
However, he had to face a lot of struggles while trying to get into a good medical college. Much to his dismay, he found that medical science is not as easy as he had thought, and it became very difficult for him to keep on track. He became a backbencher and struggled through it all. However, a chance moment changed his life as he decided to shift priorities.
A TURNING POINT
It was during his college days that an alumnus of the college, who had returned to the college for a speech after cracking UPSC imparted words that spurred Mr. Babu towards an inspirational career.
The alumnus said that even those who are found sitting on the backbenches of classrooms can become IAS and IPS officers. The line remained with the senior officer who then set his eyes on the prestigious civil services examination.
A SCHOLAR
With a zeal to study more and more, the officer kept the fire of curiosity alive in him, collecting several academic qualifications on the way. He pursued his BSc in Agriculture from Madurai and then went to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore.
He also holds BGL and MA degrees in Population Studies from Annamalai University. Further, he holds a Ph.D. for his thesis on ‘missing children’ from the University of Madras and is an MBA in Human Resources.
Not just that, the DGP has penned more than a dozen books on how to crack the civil services examination and how to stay fit. At book fairs, the stalls selling his books see footfalls equalling superstar authors.
A FITNESS FREAK AND MARATHON RUNNER
Also fondly referred to as the Marathon Man, Mr. Babu is known for his fitness regime and athletic ability. He represented India at the Asian Masters Athletic Championships in Bangkok in 2004 in the 100 meters event.
Last year, he pedalled from Chennai to Kanyakumari and was praised by fitness enthusiasts from all over. His marathon cycling and running have a big following among aficionados, activists, and those aspiring to become full-time fitness enthusiasts.
WORK AND CAREER
A multilingual, this 1987-batch officer has had an eventful career, having handled crucial positions in Chennai city police, coastal security group, railways, and fire and rescue service. During the 2015 floods in Chennai, he led a rescue team and did not hesitate a moment to wade into neck-deep water to save people in the suburbs.
Mr. Babu is an expert in law and order, who managed to persuade even a livid former chief minister to withdraw his road roko agitation. His stint as the Commissioner of Coimbatore city is remembered for the encounter-killing of one of the two men involved in the rape and murder of a schoolgirl and her brother. It was his quick-fix solution to douse raging public anger at the twin murders.
As coastal security group chief, he built a reliable network of police stations, forces, and tools to insulate the long Tamil Nadu coast from incursions.
ACCOLADES GARNERED
The officer has received several awards and medals for his work in his long career of 35 years. He was honored with President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service and President’s Police Medal for Excellence in Public Service. He has also won several shooting as well as track and field competitions and led Indian athletic contingents to international events.
Such is Mr. Babu’s stature that every time he attends police and non-police events, his entry triggers a resounding audience applause!
