A supercop and a lady

For Kanchan Chaudhry Bhattacharya, the new Director General of Police of Uttaranchal, and the first woman to rise this high, work is worship and integrity sacred. No wonder, she was the role model sister Kavita Chaudhry built on for the hit serial ‘Udaan’. TWF correspondent Deepasana meets the supercop to find out what makes her tick

A supercop with a woman-next-door look, Kanchan Chaudhry Bhattacharya has been busy overhauling a 20,000 strong force ever since she took over as the DGP of Uttaranchal. But for a person whose sole aim in life is to work with integrity and honesty, it’s all in a day’s work.

Excerpts of an interview:

Ever since you took over as the DGP, everyone has been talking about the fact that you are the first woman IPS officer to have risen to this post.
Yes, I know everyone has been talking about it. But I don’t think it’s such a big deal. When I am told that I could be an inspiration to others, all I say is that I have enjoyed my personal experiences. I am happy to be able to do things for the common people.

What takes precedence, the woman or the police officer?
Definitely the police officer and not the woman. And I am happy that this posting is an acknowledgement of the virtues of integrity and honesty that I try to imbibe. As my daughter was saying the other day, ‘Ultimately, the good does come up’.

What prompted you to join the IPS and not the administrative services? Being a woman, wouldn’t that have been a more comfortable career choice?
Well, I don’t exactly remember why I chose this stream. I have quite lost track of the sequence. Every citizen has to interact with the police at some point in their lives. There is no choice. And what struck me was the fact that the police force lacked the human touch.

Someone in your family was in the IPS?
No, no.

You had some not very happy experiences with the police force?
Yes. I then thought, if something could be done to prevent that from happening to somebody else, if justice could be delivered...and so I thought of joining the police force myself.

Playing to the gallery Banished Within and Without Women’s story Minstrels of the road Images of Fortitude A life extraordinary Challenges to change Chasing a wild dream Match-point Voice of silence Happy to be kicking Steel magnolia When magic realism meets activism Challenges to change “Dance is like breathing to me” Making a mark Sweet revenge A supercop and a lady Cat women Courage under fire Here comes Miss Marple! Space Woman

Were you not afraid?
Yes, I was, initially. The early years meant tough postings. I have had to face encounters and had to pull the trigger too. But then, I am here to do a job and I have to be tough. True, there were fears too. But then when you lead a team, you tend to push the fears back.

Has Kiran Bedi, the first IPS officer, in any way inspired you in your career?
Kiran Bedi is a very fine police officer. She is a hard-working and brave woman. I am also brave, but in a different way. We are very close. She is just one year senior to me and so she has not really been the role model for me. In fact, my mother is my greatest role model.

A police officer’s is a 24-hour job. How did you manage your profession with a family?
My mother helped me. She not only gave me a lot, but also gave a lot to my children.

There must have been many sacrifices and adjustments along the way?
Well, yes. My husband works in the corporate sector and is based in Mumbai. When they were young, my two daughters, Kanika, now 20, and Kaveri, 21, would move with me from city to city. But once they grew up, they moved to Mumbai to be with their father. They are now studying in Canada.

Any complaints from your family, especially the children?
This was best replied by my daughter who said that ‘Initially we used to mind. But then when we saw her contributions to society, we thought it was worth it.’ They realised that quality and not quantity is the most important thing in life. They respect me and look up to me. And the best thing is that they think better of me.

Was there any guilty feeling in you about neglecting your kids?
Yes. In the beginning, there was a lot of guilty feeling in me. I felt that I was not able to be a good mother. But all that was temporary. I shed it off quickly and I realised that it was a misreading. Guilt is an unnecessary emotion. All that matters is sincerity of feeling.

Have you in your 30-year long career ever thought that you should be meted out considerations just because you were a woman?
No, never. I have never asked for any favours. I think that I would be reducing myself in my own eyes if I ever ask for favours.

Lastly, it surely was not easy to reach this juncture. What was the attitude of your male colleagues?
Initially, there were barbed comments and snide remarks. But then I made it clear at the very beginning that I would not be sidetracked by them and that work is all that matters to me.