The Men Who Served Jammu & Kashmir by Dr S S Bloeria

Author:Dr S S Bloeria [Bloeria, S S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Biography & Autobiography, Political, Law Enforcement, General
ISBN: 9789385563270
Google: gIkvDAAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 31018792
Publisher: VIJ BOOKS INDIA
Published: 2016-06-01T11:10:55+00:00

GOPAL SHARMA

Gopal Sharma, IPS (JK: 1972), a child of comfort and privilege, was born in 1948 in Rajasthan. The administrative set up then carried all trappings of the colonial system and Rajasthan was, in addition, seeped in the customs and traditions of the Princely States. His father had joined as an officer, in the first batch of Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS), and was posted as “Nazim”, essentially SDM and SDO, at a place called Neem ka Thana. Being the early years of independence, the Nazim was entrusted with judicial, executive and developmental functions. The last activity, developmental, was then just at its infancy. His office was more a regal court than a public institution, almost with all the trapping of a darbar. Gopal grew up listening to the stories of the days of unfettered, almost regal, powers and his father’s decisions of awarding harsh sentences to the criminals. Also, the elected Legislators in the first general elections were beholden to the officials, for their guidance, integrity, impartiality and an almost blind faith in the new democracy that India had attained. Like old colonial practices, he did not see schools till sixth class, since the education was imparted at home by private tutors, most of whom were teaching in government schools.

One of the most enduring memories of his childhood pertains to a stay in a Dak Bunglow, with his father near Bharatpur, where he saw a magnificent mango orchard nearby whose fruits appeared to glow in the dusk. On enquiry he was told that once Emperor Akbar had spent a night in that location, on his way to Delhi from Agra, and in commemoration of that visit a large variety of mangoes had been planted for the posterity. The historical veracity of this tale notwithstanding, that memory and lesson has stayed with him since then. That wherever one visits, one should leave some impression behind – nakoosh-, a benevolent act, a memory, a mark in the sands of time. Gopal also fondly recalls joining the Boy Scouts and the pleasure of doing one good deed a day. Later as a N.C.C. cadet the thrill of firing his first shot from a .22 rifle still remains with him. Of that time, he also remembers with nostalgia his father’s postings at different district headquarters where the atmosphere was still of old colonial India. All officers and their families lived in what was called Civil Lines area comprising government houses, town hall and a club. The club with facilities like swimming pool, tennis courts, billiards and generally a cricket pavilion was a great favorite of all youngsters. Occasionally he got a chance to play tennis with young district Superintendents of Police, some of whom had the distinction of heading the state police later. However, this interaction with police and civil services did not sow the seeds of inspiration in his mind to strive for and make efforts in that direction.

Those days it were the parents, usually the father, who decided what career path a child would take.

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