In a department where many officers look unapproachable because of their stern faces and attitudes towards subordinates, Rajanna Sircilla Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan stands out for being genial and outspoken with a heart that beats for providing work-life balance to the police personnel under him. Known for being liberal in granting leaves, Akhil believes in respecting every individual officer. He addresses them as ‘Haanji boliye’ with a broad smile. In a conversation with The Pioneer’s Deepika Pasham, Akhil shares how he left his family business in Jammu and Kashmir to write UPSC examination amid changing dreams.
Not aware of EAMCET
I did my graduation from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University at Kukatpally in Hyderabad. There is an interesting story behind it. At that point of time, we never knew
about EAMCET since it was Telugu states’ examination. One of my relatives working for the Army was living in Secunderabad. I had visited their place a couple of times with my parents. It was they who suggested that I should appear for EAMCET, score well, and join a top engineering institution.
My force is priority
I give equal respect to every officer and for me the most important thing is to take care of the force. This is essential if the work has to be done well. Be it a constable or a Sub-Inspector, I must look after their welfare and bring work-life balance. That’s how I can improve their performance. I also instructed SIs that they must be liberal in permitting casual, sick leaves to officers. Only then, we can witness good output.
Left my seat in Vajirao Institute
This was way back in 2013. Within two and half months of studying at Vajirao Institute for IAS in Delhi, I felt it was not worth it. I had purchased the seat for 60 or 70k and sold it for 30k because that institute had competition for admissions.
Backup plan
UPSC is unpredictable. My friends who had attempted along with me did not clear. But that doesn’t mean they are not clever. So, I had a backup plan: ‘If not this, what else?’ My father had a wholesale kirana shop in Jammu and Kashmir. While working with him, I had started a concept like Grofers and it was a big hit in 2014 when I was preparing for the Civils. Had I not cleared Civils, I would have expanded that business.
My Hindi and Telugu
If I speak to any person who knows Hindi, nowadays they say ‘What has happened to your Hindi? It has become south Indian Hindi’. I keep hearing such comments from my family members too. I learnt Telugu, both writing and reading, by appointing a teacher. If you see anything in Telugu on my Twitter handle, it is my post and not something posted by my assistants.
I put in this effort to learn the language because one of my superiors once remarked: ‘Policing can be done anyday but language must be learnt to communicate with people’.
Support of family
I have an elder brother who is a gastroenterologist and super specialist and a younger sister who is a homemaker. I pamper my sister and we share everything we are going through in life as we are buddies. She is eight years younger to me. When I quit my family business to prepare for the Union Public Service commission examination, they said: ‘Think before taking a step, you should not come back’. I also told them: ‘It is not about one or two years but will take more time’.
Telangana was 4th preference
I have strong bonds with Hyderabad and other places in Telangana as I have been living here for nearly five years. I keep learning about the place, its culture every day. My first preference was Jammu, then it Himachal, Haryana and Hyderabad – in that order. Later it continued with Delhi. I eat only Telugu dishes and have become half Telugu now.
IPS not among dreams
Indian Police Service is not everybody’s dream. I come from a middle-class business family based in Jammu Kashmir. My schooling was in Jammu and Kashmir. My dreams kept changing. Initially, I wanted to become a doctor; then, I thought of becoming an engineer. After one of my cousins got into BITS Pilani, I too wanted to join BITS.
Clarity for Civils
After my graduation, I went to Jammu and Kashmir to pursue my father’s business, but soon lost interest in it. Nobody in my family knew about a Collector. In fact, they did not have reasons to study those topics.
Key lies in physical fitness
As individuals in uniform and serving people, we need to be fit. People will then understand that there is discipline at work. I conduct yoga camps for my staff every Saturday or second Saturday.
Politics and stress
Until now I haven’t had any bad experiences with politicians. If there are any petty issues,
I sort them out. My Minister is a visionary and gives space for us to work peacefully. There is no political interference in policing.
‘Most discipline boy’ awardee
If I tell you this, you will laugh. I was given the ‘Most disciplined boy award’ in my Tenth class mainly because I was the (acha bacha) – a good boy who listened to everything the teacher uttered in the class!
Crimes in Sircilla
This place is quite calm in terms of crime. There are petty land issues, husband and wife
tiffs, property issues among siblings, and small bodily offences.
Wife
My wife Divyanshi Gupta is back home as she is writing her MD (Ophthalmology) exams
and will shift in July to Sircilla. I got married in September last year. It was an arranged-cum-love marriage. It has been a forced bachelor’s life as she could visit only twice.
Three postings in 1year
I was DCP admin Ramagundam, DCP Mancherial, and DCP Peddapalli for short periods and I liked the work. It was very hectic and I had responsibilities. I could learn a lot everyday. For instance, as an admin I knew how to run an office.
Here in Sricilla, I am implementing my learnings as not only outside office, but inside administration is important.
I do get angry
In any photo or event, you will see that I carry myself with a smile. But during my conversations with Inspectors, I am told, I am at times angry. It shows on my face, but this
emotion will be seen only when I want my officers to learn something as I critically analyse them. I become normal after that small shouting at officers.
The destination you want to travel: Italy
Describe yourself: I am a happy-go-lucky person
Favourite colour: Black and sky blue
Religious: I follow that’s it
Nickname: Abhu
Initiatives
In my last posting, I realised that people come to DSPs and SIs, but not SPs. So, I wanted
to bridge that gap. I introduced ‘Message your SP’. I get messages that are directed to the officers concerned.
Meekosam, which refers to ‘Police for You’, is an initiative in which we choose one village
each week. We have 13 inspectors, and we organise programmes and speak to villagers on cybercrime, drug trafficking, dial 100, and SHE teams.
Disasters are becoming more common around the world. Cops are the first responders. To improve the effectiveness of the police force, a Disaster Response Force (DRF) was formed
in Sircilla, with members trained by DRF and the GHMC. Siddipet is prone to flooding. So, it is always recommended to be prepared.
Watching movies to learn Telugu
I think there is no movie that I haven’t watched to just learn the language.
These days movies such as Dasara on Netflix. I liked Hit, Falkunama Das and Pitta Kathalu.
A sad moment
When I was ACP Mancherial, one boy came to me saying there was a problem in his marriage and asked me if I could counsel his wife. Then women cops were asked to handle it. The girl, who was hardly 22 years, came along with her mother and told me that the
man was abnormal. The guy came and started banging his head. I removed him from my office. Later, they registered complaints against each other. Ten days later, I got a call, saying double death has been reported. When I rushed to the spot, I saw the two women’s bodies lying there. I had a regrettable moment.
