It seems, thousand years have passed since I wrote a blog. Spent time writing novel, script, stories for web-series, but missed on writing a blog. Thoughts appeared and disappeared, came and vanished, but I failed to express here. Blog writing has been cathartic to me. It is a medium where I express unhindered, unchained and unplanned. There is no reason why I should miss this enviable space of freedom.
A new, challenging journey has commenced in my life. On 28th Feb, 2024, I was posted as Superintendent of Police of Datia, a district in Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, once infamous for dacoits. I joined on 29th Feb evening. What a choice of the day, a leap year day, to return only after 4 years.
In yesterdays, the stories of this Chambal area was favourite for the film makers. Horse riding dacoits were portrayed as barbaric, robinhood and what not. Today, there are no registered dacoits anymore. However, the mindset of people remains complaining and full of vengeance. The caste polarisation is perceptible. Registering counter criminal cases to settle scores, dragging people into conflict with law, and even planning self inflicted injuries to get case registered against the opponent, sometimes leading to deaths of own kith and kin in erred planning, remains order of the day. Getting a gun license is the most coveted life goal and showcasing it in public a status symbol. Women still are denied the space they rightfully deserve. Might of the gun and muscle power rules the roost, if not literally, at least mentally. Men do not prefer their women folk to venture out and decide on their desire, hence the conflict persists.
As a natural fallout, women issues became my primary concern. On 2nd March, I instructed all police station in-charge to give a facelift to their premises and make it perceptibly less threatening. On 4th, I verbally ordered to start women tour to police stations, so that the image and perception changes. On 8th, celebrating the International Women's day, the instruction was formalised in black and white. This took off well and continues. On 10th, recognising women's day, a programme was organised where four successful ladies shared their journey and motivated the audience, which was around 300. It was all women on the stage, and Q&A format was adopted. This kept the session engaging and spirited. This was first of its kind in Datia, I was told. Nevertheless, will these small efforts bring the desired change in the society, that I look for?
What I have learnt after working with Bedia community is that perseverance, persistence and perpetuity are the key tools to bring change in a society. These big terms do not dampen my spirit, as there is a success story of Samvedna to emulate. But what is challenging is the team that I have in Datia i.e. police personnels. 99 percent of them hail from the same area, so they carry the same mindset that I have to fight against. There is imminent need to sensitise them first. Another challenge is do away with the tradition of police to deliberately keep the community at bay, as the practical financial and psychological benefits accrued due to the trust deficit is immense and no one intends to lose that gain.
It is not what you look at; It is how you look at it.
It is not what you think; it is how you present .
It is not what they like; It is how you perceive.
Eyes and ears are shallow for they are influenced and shadowed by past experience. To learn anything, one has to unlearn first, or at least be open minded to accept a different inflow.
When we talk of change, we try to challenge the existing equilibrium. Always what looks as harmonious ambience is not necessarily beautiful from inside. Normalisation of compromise of rights cannot be always ignored on the pretext of traditionally accepted norms for generations. Era alters the need, desire, perception and equations. Current era is advocating change at a bullet speed. A small lag gets translated into a huge gap between different societies. Digital space promises to bridge that gap virtually, but in reality this transition phase is causing debilitating effect on the mind of youth, leading to confusion and frustration.
Datia is a place, which is struggling to catch up. Due to presence of Sidh peeth of Peetambara Mai (Goddess) and Dhumavati Mai (Goddess) in Datia there is a huge inflow of elite crowd from across country. Similarly, there is are plethora of Jain temples on a small hill at Sonagir, which again attracts rich and elite Jain community from all places. But hardly this crowd stays in Datia. Jhansi, Gwalior and Orcha being close, people move out to these places to stay. Hence, the floating population does not really impact the culture of Datia, the way they should. Ratangarh is another Goddess temple of high reverence, but is considered to be flocked by rural visitors from vicinity, perpetuating the traditional mindset.
It is too early and to be honest a manifestation of arrogance for me to claim that my observation, calculation and analysis is perfectly right. I wanted to pen down my early experience, so that at later stage I can evaluate the change in perception and any impact of my efforts during my stint here.
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