THE very feel of the island at the centre of the Raj Bhavan (West) square is different. Right at the centre of isle is the Police emblem (showcasing the strong hand of the cops). Several statues of policemen at work on different duties, in different gear are positioned in a neat circle along the island’s periphery. Take a look at the central island at this square and you would feel happy. For, what is on display is an artistic symbolism of what the cops do -- guarding people, controlling rowdy crowds, directing traffic, standing tall and firm against crime. Anybody who takes time to take a good look at the statues and try to understand what the cops actually do, would feel elated at the very sight. The loosefooter moves around the city all the time -- from locality to locality, from one area to another, watching people, visiting stores, attempting to know how the people live and what they must face ... Every now and then, he sees policemen on duty at squares and elsewhere. They are either from the Traffic Police Department or from other parts of the Police ecosystem. The loosefooter happens to meet some Police officers as well to know from them their viewpoint on various issues.

 

As a journalist of long experience, the loosefooter has also seen cops in different situations -- handling tough moments with efficiency. In all these years, he has had not a single bad experience with the cops. Sometimes, the cops do conduct themselves rather in a rough manner. But that is very rare. On most occasions, the cops behave with people fairly and try to respond to people’s needs in whatever manner possible. With these thoughts milling in the mind, the loosefooter suddenly realised one late evening that the spectacle of those statues of Police personnel at the Raj Bhavan (West) square present an altogether different picture -- as people’s friends and protectors.

 

The loosefooter also realised that the cops, too, are as human as other people and have the same kind anxieties and worries. They -- the cops -- also have their families to care for, have at home elderly parents and others to care for. They also have children that go to school, see big dreams. When such thoughts rise in one’s inner mind, one realises that the cops need to be understood deeply by the larger society, and treated with respect -- not fear. That evening, as these thoughts emerged in his mind, the loosefooter felt a different kind of sense of relief from uncalled for anxieties about cops. That new perspective was very engaging, to say the least -- and of course, fairly endearing. n