What did a Superintendent of Police (SP) do when somebody complainted to him about a subordinate police inspector for not lodging a First Information Report (FIR) against an elephant who has destroyed his crop? The SP instead getting flummoxed, merely asked the complainant – what was the gender of the criminal which is mandatory entry in FIR? Hathi tha ya Hathini? The complainant had no answer. And the matter ended there.
The incident was narrated by the legendary IPS officer Mr Prakash Singh, farmer DGP of Uttar Pradesh and Assam who also served as DG BSF.
Mr Singh was the chief guest at the book release function of ‘Comedy in Khaki’ – a book written by Mr Prakash Mishra, former DGP of Odisha who was also DG of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The function took place at Delhi Police Headquarters on January 11, 2025. The evening was lit up by similar wisecracks by all the guests speaking on the occasion attended by a huge crowd comprising people from all walks of life but mostly police officers, both serving and retired.
MEWAR VS PAHAD
Lt. Gen. (Retd) CP Mohanty of 6, Rajputana Rifles regaled the audience with an incident in which he, as a young captain, was leading a parade as an Adjutant. The parade was to be inspected by the Maharana of Mewar. The Chief Guest arrived one hour behind the schedule. The officers standing under the Sun, were famished and anguished. While inpecting the parade when every officer introduced himself, the Chief Guest would shake hand and reply, ‘Mewar’, signifying that he was the King of Mewar or he owned up entire Mewar.
When he reached the officer standing next to the Adjutant, who was from Garhwal in Uttarakhand, didn’t introduce himself preferring to remain mum. The Chief Guest neverthless, shook his hand and in his heavy baritone muttered, ‘Mewar’. The officer also replied with similar expressions, ‘Pahad’ (hills). The entire parade broke into a loud laughter. Whatever happen to the officer and the Adjutant later on, however was not divulged.
The book is a compilation of funny incidents witnessed by Mr Mishra during his life and career as a Police Officer. Most incidents described in the book are encountered by all of us on almost daily basis but it is his observation and the way to describe the incidents that makes a reader laugh. This is first attempt by a police officer to find ‘Comedy in Khaki’.
Former DGP of U.P. Dr. Vikram Singh, too lauded Mr Prakash Mishra’s attempt saying nobody expects a police officer to smile, let alone smile. A cop is supposed to have a constant frown on the face as if he has just now swallowed two flies. Moreover, Mr Mishra’s looks are also deceptive, he observed in jest.
Mr Sanjay Arora, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, Mr Suhail Mathur of Book Bakers and Mr Arup Bose of Srishti Publishers also graced the stage.
