In a poignant and inspiring episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, host Amitabh Bachchan welcomed IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma alongside actor Vikrant Massey. Massey’s film 12th Fail was inspired by Sharma’s remarkable journey, and his latest project, The Sabarmati Report, continues to explore challenging themes. Sharma, who appeared on the show with his mother, wife, and son, offered viewers a glimpse into the life of a police officer and the personal sacrifices that come with wearing the khaki uniform.
During one such conversation with the host, Sharma revealed that police officers are not able to celebrate big festivals like Diwali with their families. Indian Masterminds spoke to a few officers in the IPS fraternity to get their opinion on the matter.
“POLICEMEN DON’T CELEBRATE FESTIVALS; THEY PROTECT THE CELEBRATORS”
In a light-hearted yet moving moment, Amitabh Bachchan asked Sharma’s mother about her son’s absence during festivals. Her response underscored the reality of his profession. “He is never there for any festival,” she said. “He has never celebrated Diwali, Shravan, or any other festival. Even if I want him to, he wouldn’t be there.”
Sharma then shared his own perspective, adding depth to his mother’s words. “Sir, policewala koi tyohaar nahi mana pata. To date, I haven’t celebrated a single Diwali. Once you wear khaki, then you don’t have a religion or caste; you dedicate your whole life to the country as a Policeman. There is no specific time for the duty. Some days, you work for 12 hours, some days it’s 24 hours, and sometimes you don’t come home for three days,” he explained. Sharma noted that during festivals, when the rest of the community is celebrating, the police are working to ensure everyone’s safety. “Policemen are social changers,” he said, emphasizing that their work plays a vital role in keeping society safe and harmonious.
Moved by these words, Amitabh Bachchan expressed his deep respect, saying, “Today, not just in front of you but to all the police officers of the country, I fold my hands and thank them from the bottom of my heart.”
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER SENIOR IPS OFFICERS
Indian Masterminds spoke to other IPS officers to understand the sacrifices they make during festivals and the unique challenges of their profession.
Dr. Arti Singh, Inspector General of Police, Mumbai, Maharashtra (2006 Batch)
Dr. Arti Singh, a 2006-batch IPS officer, provided insight into the dual responsibility faced by female officers, particularly during festive seasons. “It’s more specific to women officers because you have a dual responsibility. And when festivities come up, managing the law-and-order duty along with household responsibilities is demanding. There’s usually nobody at home to assist you. For a male IPS officer, there’s often a spouse at home. He does not have to take on household duties because our society functions that way. Women IPS officers have a lot more to juggle,” she said.
Singh explained how female officers are expected to manage both the public duty of law and order and private household responsibilities, creating a “challenging time.” Despite these demands, she stated, “Once you have chosen the service, everybody knows the challenges. So, we’re happy to take it up and try to do justice to both our profession and our families. But, yes, it’s a little more difficult for female officers, especially when juggling home and duty.”
Ajay Tomar, Retired IPS Officer and Former Police Commissioner of Surat City (1989 Batch)
Ajay Tomar, who retired this year, spoke about the sacrifices inherent in the job and the sense of pride that comes with them. “When the nation is celebrating a festival, the police aren’t celebrating. We enjoy knowing that people are celebrating peacefully because we are on duty,” Tomar shared.
Reflecting on his career, he added, “This year, after retirement, I celebrated Diwali with my family for the first time. For years, we couldn’t celebrate because we were making sure others could. Now, being with family on Diwali is something new, but there’s pride in knowing our work allowed others to celebrate.”
Arvind Chaturvedi, SP Vigilance, Lucknow (1991 Batch)
Arvind Chaturvedi, currently posted as SP, Vigilance in Lucknow, explained the heightened responsibilities officers face during festival seasons. “Whether it’s any festival of any community, it comes with a need for law and order. Our social fabric and values rely on good law and order. During such periods, our responsibilities increase twofold,” he explained.
Chaturvedi acknowledged that while officers in non-field postings might occasionally get a chance to celebrate with their families, field officers do not have that option. “Celebrating becomes a far-fetched idea because we get extremely busy managing public safety,” he said.
A MOMENT OF RECOGNITION
The episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 16 not only shed light on the personal sacrifices of police officers but also allowed the audience to appreciate the dedication that defines their lives. With Bachchan’s heartfelt gratitude and the words of officers like Mr. Sharma, Dr. Singh, Mr. Tomar, and Dr. Chaturvedi, viewers were reminded of the commitment police officers bring to their roles. For many of them, the satisfaction of serving and protecting society often replaces the joy of personal celebrations, making them “social changers” in the truest sense.
