Everwin student is the Chennai Champion in English elocution
Dt 25/11/2009 |
 She spoke five times in 2 days before different teams of judges comprising Inspector of police, Assistance Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Joint Commissioner and in the finals the City Police Commissioner Rajendran. And she was the winner throughout.
P. Vasuki, a class VIII student of Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kolathur is the lone winner in the English elocution on the topic ‘My visit to police station’ organised by the Chennai City Police as part of their recent initiative to remove fear about police from the minds of students. The venue was the Commissioner’s office, Egmore.
Vasuki outperformed students of schools in Kolathur, Villivakkam in the first round, those in Anna Nagar Police district in the second, those in Central Chennai in the third before making it to the top, right before Mr. Rajendran in the finals, beating her counterparts in South and North Chennai.
Earlier the paricipants were taken to the police training camp in Adyar. Before the finals began, they were also taken around the premises in the Commissioner’s office to see for themselves how the police headquarters functions.
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| TEXT OF SPEECH "
MY VISIT TO POLICE STATION" |
Wow! It was indeed a love at first sight, when I landed in the Kolathur police station on Thursday last. Truly, it was a VIP reception and hospitality. Remember students like me are fed up waiting at the school gates for hours to receive theVIPs at our school. Here it was an experience in contrast. Yes, we were considered VIPs by the police and treated accordingly. Let me right now thank everyone who was part of this novel event.
The arrangements at the reception and inside the station reminded me of a wedding reception at a star hotel. Later when the Assistant Commissioner Villivakkam explained to me about the stars they sport on their shirts, I was happy about my comparing a star hotel to these stars.
I have heard of clashes among groups of people on the street and police rushing to bring control. But I saw the police constables clashing among themselves right in front of my eyes. I can’t guess what instructions our respected Commissioner and the top police officers gave the policemen. But they competed and tried to outsmart one another in showing us the records and registers maintained over there. One says, UI record - Under Investigation. Another says, “This is PT record - Pending Trial’. Yet another says ‘This is model FIR’ - First Information Report’ and a woman constable exclaims - “Computers entered long back into police stations too”. I was in cloud nine! Who am I? What am I? Why should they tell me so much?
Normally we the children are tired of being told by elders, “you are a child; you don’t know anything” I always would like to ask, “Without telling me something, how can I know anything”. Here in police stations, I was told many things. Thank God, both that God G O D and this GUARD G U A R D - that is police.
The way and fashion in which my police-turned friends encouraged me, I felt at home and started asking us a volley of questions. I was in a position similar to that of Tharumi of Thiruvidaiyadal. He was hungry of money; I was hungry of knowledge. The Inspector’s eyes indicated that he was ready to play the role of Lord Shiva and quench the knowledge thirst of this Tharumi. I at once opened the flood gates of doubts and questions. And it was a virtual question - answer session involving Tharumi and Lord Shiva. |
| Tharumi |
How many hours do you work a day” |
| Shiva |
We work in shift system: 7 to 13, 13 to 21, 17 to 21 and 21 to 07 |
| Tharumi |
How many police personnel are working here? |
| Shiva |
One law and order inspector, one crime inspector, two sub inspectors,
head constables, GR I & II constables and others. |
| Tharumi |
What about the communications facilities? |
| Shiva |
VHF, Walkie Talkie, Fax, Phone, E-mail, Internet etc.
Tharumi : Can you interpret VHF? |
| Shiva |
Very High Frequency |
| Tharumi |
In our school our teachers stopped beat system to tame us. Here in police station
I see frequent use of the word ‘beat’. What is it? |
| Shiva |
It is not beating. It refers to patrolling at sensitive areas to prevent untoward incidents. |
| Tharumi |
Why should you suspect everyone if something happens? |
| Shiva |
There is a familiar saying among American Police “In God we trust;
All others are suspects” |
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One thing I was dreaded to touch was the gun, revolver, pistol magazine and cartridges. Because memories are green and fresh in my mind, watching on TV how even very young ones taking to the guns for the sole purpose of killing innocent people. ‘Should I touch these weapons too?’ was the question foremost in my mind. Sensing my mood, the Kolathur woman sub-inspector persuaded me to go through and touch a series of weapons displayed on the table. And what she said can never be forgotten- “See ma, these weapons are just tools. We can use it for both productive and destructive purposes. Remember your mother uses match sticks only to light the stove and not to set the house on fire”. I again asked her why the terrorists always go into hiding after killing innocent people. The inspector intervened and said “They have no face to face the police face to face”. I enjoyed that quote very much.
We had some break and then me any my classmates came around the writer’s desk, lock-up-room and Inspector’s cabin. We were really perplexed at the number of roles the police personnel play when situation demands: a doctor to give first aid, an engineer to cut through the collapsed house, a teacher to tame the wrong doers, a counsellor to talk a lot to unite a divided family, a soldier to defend our country and constitution, a protector of leaders and people and what not? The police my friends are really great. Hitherto I thought they are chief guests at the sports day in schools, besides chasing and beating the demonstrators on the road.
I found an interesting resemblance as well. If ABC is for us the students, IPC and CPC, that is, Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code are for our friends the police. If we have uniform in different colours, the police also love and live with a number of colours - Red Color Police Station, Yellow brigade motor cycle and blue brigade motor cycle. 100 is the magic number for both of us. We have to score 100 per cent in in exams. The police have to rush towards those dialling 100.
In the end I apologise to the police for my gross misconceptions and misunderstanding about this department. I am upset at the way two forces misguided me on this. One, my grandma who used to threaten me that if I make mistakes, police would catch me. She would always say'thappu pannaa policela pudichi koduthuduven'
Two, the cinema where most of the films do not enlighten us about the great work of police. Now that I visited a police station and the things myself, my idea of a police stands totally changed. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The police in need are our friends indeed. When the police are near, there is nothing to fear.
Thanks a lot to one and all. |
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