From classrooms to police stations

BANGALORE: Theirs is a story that blossomed in classrooms as lecturers with chalk ‘n’ chatter as company. A story that finally ended in a climax at the police stations, not as the bad guys, but as the ones who chased them. Express caught up with some officers of the Karnataka police, who once taught English, Geology, Economics and Zoology in reputed universities. There could many more of their tribe, keeping the law and order intact, however, as per the police textbooks!His teaching stint with University of Mysore did a world of good to B N S Reddy, currently the Joint Commissioner (CAR), Bangalore. “It gave me the right input to remain calm. What you are today reflects on many factors, including good education, upbringing and values. Policing is a very stressful job with work keeping you on the toes constantly. I owe a lot to the priceless moments I had while teaching in Mysore,” says Reddy. He was an English lecturer from 1982-84 with a salary of `1,200, until he opted for the police job. Reddy had also enrolled for his doctoral studies in Caribbean poetry.For Ravindra Prasad, Commandant, First Battalion, Karnataka State Reserve Police, teaching gave many inspiring moments. He was a geology lecturer with the National Institute of Engineering College, Mysore, from 1982-83, before plunging into policing. “I enjoyed every bit of teaching. I took the students on an all-India tour — from Kanyakumari to Kashmir — visiting dams and underground tunnels. Teaching is a very noble profession, while police is a service to humanity. I have learned many lessons as a student, teacher and now policeman,” says Prasad. With an experience of 25 years as a police officer, Prasad does not miss an opportunity even now to hit the classroom as an invited faculty. Dr T D Pawar, Superintendent of Police, Chikballapur, was a lecturer in Economics at Karnatak University, Dharwad, from 1985 to 1988 and then on a Reader until he joined the police force in 1993. “My teaching experience is the guiding light even now. It keeps the mind fresh, makes me very disciplined and above all helped me imbibe good behaviour. Teaching has influenced my social concern towards common man’s problems,” Dr Pawar, who holds a doctorate in Economics, said. He never misses an opportunity even now to teach at the Karnataka Police Academy in Mysore. Even the Superintendent of Police (Railways), B Shivakumar, had an eight-year stint as a lecturer before getting into police service. “I did my MSc in Zoology from Karnatak University and taught the same for degree students between 1977-83 at Shorapur College in Yadgir and Gulbarga First Grade College,” he says.“I joined police in 1985. Both are different fields and teaching was an amazing experience. I had also half-completed PhD in Fishery Biology, but had to cut it short after entering  service,” he adds.