Remember when the DCP of a police station went viral on news platforms for saluting another IPS officer of a higher rank on a field duty who happened to be his daughter?
In September 2018, DCP of Malkajgiri, Mr. Rama Umamaheswara Sarma was supervising the security arrangements for Pragathi Nivedana Sabha, a public meeting by Chief Minister K. Chandrasehkar Rao at Kongara Kalan when IPS officer Sindhu Sarma (his daughter) also entered the field, receiving a salute from her proud father.
You can check out Indian Mastermind’s full coverage on the story here: A father’s salute to his daughter!
Today, Mr. Sarma is again in the headlines as he has launched his own memoir of the cop-naxal clashes that he had faced in his line of duty where he charts the ‘undocumented’ ground reality of the discord and how he dealt with it.
ESSAYING HIS JOURNEY IN THE BOOK
Mr. Sarma’s Telugu memoir – ‘Nenu Santa Kuda… Okka Jeevana Katha’ essays his entire journey in the police force, and documents the reality of the Maoist clashes in the rural regions of India, as also the role of police in dealing with it.
Hailing from a lower-middle-class family, the IPS officer of the 1981 batch Telangana cadre entered the force as a Sub Inspector, rose to the rank of Superintendent of Police, and finally retired in May 2019. What makes his journey remarkable is that he served the state in various positions which included a posting in Maoist-affected North Telangana in the 1990s. At one point, he was also a part of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
GROUND REALITY OF WORKING ON THE FIELD
Mr. Sarma explained in detail that in his book, he penned down the real, raw, and ‘undocumented’ ground reality of the clashes. He talks about how police officers must endure exchange of fire in naxal-affected areas. Furthermore, he describes the tactical steps that they must take in order to navigate the rural and forest lands in pursuit of Maoists.
In his memoir, Mr. Sarma, an amateur farmer, wrote about role clarity of police officers in the changing scenarios. He also talks about the importance of people friendly policing and how it helps in ensuring the smooth working between police and the citizens.
Freedom in every workspace is quite important, which includes the police force as well. The retired IPS officer dwells on the aspect of police freedom which is quite imaginative in today’s time, apparently.
Speaking about the book, he states, “In the book, I have discussed the tactical steps police officers must take to comb rural and forest lands in pursuit of Maoists. I have also mentioned about the changing roles of police officers in the recent times, and tips to maintain a healthy personal and professional life balance.”
SUCCESSFUL FAMILY MAN
Even after being out on the field because of his job, for a long time in his life and facing fire, clashes, and unexpected attacks on the team, Mr. Sarma was able to raise a beautiful and successful family. This is quite clear looking at the success of his children, especially his daughter who is an Indian Police Service officer and is posted at a rank that is even higher than Mr. Sarma himself.
“Nenu Santa Kuda… Okka Jeevana Katha celebrates my professional and personal journeys. My\ wife, Santa, has been on my side through thick and thin, and that is why I decided to launch this book on her special day,” the writer added.
The retired Superintendent of Police launched the book on his wife’s birthday to honor her for being his pillar of support.
