"As I Look Back" by Raghaba Reddy - Book Review by Ratan Lal Basu

by Ratan Lal Basu
(Kolkata, India)

A THRILLING JOURNEY THROUGH THE WONDERLAND OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL TREATISE:

AS I LOOK BACK, Reminiscences of a Police Officer
By
G. Raghava Reddy, IPS (Retd)

The book is presented in the form of a sequence of slides dissolving into one another and portraying a coherent series of vivid imageries that keep the reader enthralled penetrating deep into his heart and transporting him into a new world of knowledge, enlightenment and hopeful imagination.

The compact narration, however, may be meaningfully partitioned into three major segments with three specific connotations – childhood, police service and as an innovative farmer after retirement.

The first part depicts how the author at his very childhood had to encounter the trauma of loss of both the parents, how he came in contact of an honest and dedicated communist leader and Gandhiji who sent him, although a child from a rich Reddy family, to a hostel meant for the harijan children. This exemplified Gandhiji’s strong conviction against blameworthy caste system. This part also gives an idea how contact with Gandhiji sowed in his soul the seeds of ethics, honesty, dedication, patriotism and other attributes that shaped his character and was conspicuously reflected in his future activities.

The second part that portrays his life in police service has profound significance and is of immense value for the police in our country and for that matter any democratic nation. Rights, duties and ethics of the police have been dealt with intensively, extensively and exhaustively in this part through vivid sketching of the experiences of the author himself and brief mention of activities of a plethora of other honest and dedicated police officers belying popularly held view that honesty in police service is just exception.

This part also contains invaluable suggestions and guidelines as to how the image of the police could be restored and brightened in the eyes of the common people and how the police could play their proper role to strengthen the hands of law and thereby our democracy. These guidelines have profound connotations for the perfection of our democratic set up which has been proved by historical experience to be the best conceivable political system to enforce equity and justice.

Democracy in India, with its multifarious constitutional support and vast body of legislations and its welfare oriented undertone, is capable of redressing all conceivable grievances and deprivations and enforce equity and social justice. However, to make Indian democratic State deliver the goods and inculcate confidence in the minds of its citizens about the efficacy of the system and futility of resorting to violent means for redressal of deprivations and grievances the police and the judiciary have the most important roles. In India there are legal provisions to remove all conceivable injustice and social evils, but enforcement of these measures in fruitful and efficacious manner depends a great deal on the police and the judiciary who have complementary roles in this regard.

Enforcement of law in a democratic set up is not a simple task. No short-cut in this regard is likely to produce any desired result. Detecting the crimes and arresting the law breakers is very difficult task if the police adheres to legal means alone, is humane in its approach and refrains from short cuts, cruelty, third-degree etc. Next problem for the police is to substantiate charges against the accused in law courts within the bounds of democratic norms. Evidences are most important in substantiating charges made by the police and preservation of evidences, and safety of the witnesses (even after the cases end) is Herculean task. So honesty and knowledge about law and evidences on the part of the police is not enough, painstaking efforts and care are also necessary. Even honest and intrepid police officers fail in many cases because of lack of tenacity, cautiousness, thorough knowledge of court procedures and perfect anticipation of the tricks and evasive devices of the lawyers of the accused.

Mr. Raghava Reddy, especially in T. Nagi Reddy case, has proved how strong will and determination can enable the police force to enforce the rule of law without violating the democratic and humanitarian norms, without generating mutual hatred between the police and the convicted. Law breakers are human beings, the highest creation of God, and so we may hate crime but have no right to hate the law breakers. Mr. Raghava Reddy, throughout his career has strictly adhered to this norm and showed respect to the law breakers where it is due, “gives the devil his due” so to say.

The above marathon trial covering a period of 14 months called for evidence that ran into at least 9000 printed pages and 325 witnesses and 777 documents from various parts of the country had to be thoroughly examined. The most intricate part was to preserve security of documents and the witnesses. It should be pointed out here that Nagi Reddy Communist Conspiracy Case is the only conspiracy case which ended in conviction in pre and post independence India. In this connection the author depicts a vivid picture of the origin and evolution of the Naxalite Movement in India, its split up and manifestation in Andhra Pradesh leading to a massive Communist Conspiracy to overthrow the legally established democratic state machinery of India.
The book also mentions the essential qualities of the investigating team to accomplish such a Herculean task as: perception, patience, preparation, planning, persuasiveness, perseverance, presentation. Which he has not explicitly mentioned but imbedded in the narration are: thorough and intensive knowledge of relevant laws, court formalities and the combating methods adopted by lawyers of the accused.

Along with mentioning the responsibilities of the police, Mr. Reddy does not fail to highlight their rights which are to be fulfilled to inspire them to discharge duty with enthusiasm and without any grudge: promotion at all stages should be strictly according to merit and seniority and not through lobbying and political interference, and seniors should always encourage the subordinates and give due credit to the meritorious jobs performed by the juniors.

Efficiency of the police force in India is reduced considerably owing to lack of minimum amenities and amicable conditions. Mr. Reddy in his book has given a vivid description of the miserable condition under which Hyderabad traffic police had to work. However, Mr. Reddy, with painstaking efforts could complete the arduous task of provision of basic amenities for Hyderabad traffic police so far denied to them.

The third part consists of an account of his activities after retirement from police service. This part raises hope for all superannuated persons who languish in inactivity. The author here extols dignity of labour and shows how retired bureaucrats can find a dignified calling without resorting to queuing up with the politicians for a job, and above all how the spirit of self help could be generated among the rural poor. All these Mr. Reddy did by taking up his family profession of farmer and even without any knowledge of agricultural science he has proved how, through cultivation of medicinal ad aromatic herbs by scientific methods, multiple cropping and eco-friendly agricultural practices, the poor cultivators can sustain livelihood on their own, how alternatives to harmful allopathic drugs could be devised and the export income of the country could be raised.

The last part, however, has a sad note that such a great personality is at present victim of the deadly disease cancer but here also we are to learn from his indefatigable and invincible character.

The get up of the book with attractive photographs of important personalities, places and herbal garden is really praise worthy. Printing mistakes are limited. However, uniformity in the use of capital and small letters would make the text more perfect. The price is also moderate and affordable by most of the readers.

The book is unquestionably an Invaluable Asset for the Invincible Indian Democracy.