A memorable day
It was February 2005. I was Deputy
Inspector General of Police in Central Range, based in Ernakulam. The President of India was visiting Kerala and
I was in charge of VVIP Security. A week prior to the visit, officers from
Special Protection Group arrived and we planned a fault free programme for the VVIP
visit.
The President landed at the Naval
Base Airport in the late evening and he was taken to Taj Malabar for stay. I
had seen the presidential suite of Taj for the first time on that day. I also
went inside the Taj luxury cruise for the first time during this visit. Next day, I
escorted the President to the various places, sat through the function and
filtered the guests to his room. After the busy schedules, he was taken to the suite in Taj. Quite a lot of people were crowded around his
room waiting to see him even in the late night. Most of them had come with recommendation
letters of some famous politicians and were demanding to see the President
despite our best efforts to send them away. I tried along with other officers to quieten and send them away. Suddenly
the door of the VVIP suite opened and the President’s head peeped out.
“What is all this ruckus?” he asked. “Why
these people are here at 12 in the midnight? Please send them away.” He looked
staight at me after saying this and closed the door. Suddenly all the people left quietly. The efforts
of us, police officers to send them away had failed miserably while just
a few words from the Prez were enough to instantly disperse them!
The next day's programme too went
without any problem. At around 9 in the evening the that day, the President
left for the Airport accompanied by the VVIP car-cade. I was in the 9th
vehicle behind the VIP bullet proof car. When I reached the Naval Base, the
President was walking to the stairway to the flight. I ran to catch up with the
other officers. Before climbing the stairs, he turned and saw me running and
panting in the effort to get near so that I could salute him properly. He
summoned me to him with a gesture.
Surprised, I went to the VVIP
thinking, Oh God, what mistake did I commit now? The last night, when the
President opened the door to quieten the noise, I presumed that his look towards me was
accusatory. He was tired and the useless police couldn’t prevent the loud
noises outside his room! Later that night I had thought his original intention was to fire the police. But
seeing a lady officer he must have addressed the crowd instead!
But as I went
near, he walked towards me with a smile and put his hand around my shoulder.
“Thanks for taking such good care of
me.” He said, smiling at me.
What? I stood paralyzed and in shock.
Lots of flashes appeared in the darkness as the photographer’s cameras clicked. He turned, went up the stairs and the officers turned back to the exit pulling me with them.
I had done umpteen number of VIP duties till then. None of the VIPs had even bothered to
return the salute or acknowledge the presence of Police officers in khaki. So I
was naturally shocked to hear a VVIP, that too, the President of India, thank
me for my services!
Later that night lying awake, I regretted that I didn’t
respond to him with something like- “Sir, please don't thank me, it was my duty, it was my pleasure.” Or anything in reply. He must have thought me quite dumb!
Flip the years to June 2014. The venue was
again, Ernakulam, at the Cyber Security Conference organized by Kerala Police.
I had the fortune to share the stage with the ex-President of India, Dr. APJ
Abdul Kalam. In the brief time I got to sit near him, I reminded him about the VVIP duty I did nine years back when he came to Kochi and my shock in hearing him thank me before leaving. I said- "Sir, I would like to apologize for my silence that time. I was too shocked to hear a VVIP thank me."
He laughed and replied- “But it was not a special treatment for you. I
like to thank everybody for their services.” Cameras clicked again.
Much to my happiness, I got a copy of
that picture which I treasure.
Dr Kalam, a truly great man. My
humble salute to him.
