Vohra - An Unlikely Police Chief: From and To Jaisalmer House

This is the story of an honest refugee boy who overcomes the post-Partition challenges and succeeds in joining the IPS. Besides serving in Delhi and two Northeastern states, the author has the distinction of also serving in almost all the Central Armed Police Forces of the country! During the difficult times in his long career, this policeman refused to deviate from the straight and narrow, and yet rose to the highest position in the service. Those joining the constabularies will particularly benefit by reading this volume. Highly recommended!

N.N. VOHRA
Former Governor J&K

The autobiography of Shri B.L. Vohra, who is popular in the IPS fraternity as Bhushi (an affectionate diminutive for Bhushan Lal Vohra), provides a rare instance of an IPS officer who has served in almost all Central police organizations and has done so with distinction. He proved his mettle during his stints as DGP of Manipur (where he was also the state Home Secretary), and Tripura, when the two Northeastern states were the theatre of insurgency and the state police forces were facing serious challenge in maintaining order and security. He led the police force in both states with distinction and the experience he gained there proved valuable during his term in the BSF, the CRPF, the CISF and in the elite NSG.

I had the good fortune to have Bhushi working with me in a district of the Delhi Police, where he began his career, and I could see that he was a sound professional. His varied experience of working with both the paramilitary forces and the state police forces have stood him in good stead.

Bhushi is blessed with a good pen which he has used wellrather prolificallyto author 13 books. His versatility was recognized when he was in the Delhi High Courts Monitoring Committee on Unauthorized Constructions and his public spiritedness is evident in the work of Vastradan, his NGO that collects clothes and distributes them among people who are below the poverty line, which by any means is a laudable effort.

His book is the story of his life that has been full of rich experiences and which should be both enjoyable reading and educative.

NIKHIL KUMAR
Former Governor of Nagaland and Kerala

Vohras book about his journey from a little boy in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Delhi to the Director General of Police of two states, Manipur and Tripura, and also of two Central government organizations, Civil Defence and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) makes easy reading.

Vohra has an easy style of writing after my own heart. He tells his story in a lucid language, which makes it an interesting reading. He is obviously prolific he has 13 other books to his name!

What really struck me was that even if an assignment was a very uninteresting one with no chance of making any noticeable contribution, Vohra has not neglected to find avenues for amelioration.

A good example of this is his contribution to rejuvenating the Civil Defence and Home Guards and putting new life into the Fire Brigade Services that prop up Civil Defence. His spirit of never say die is also visible in the additional charge he held of the SSB just for a few months. In those few months he learnt that emoluments promised to the lowest ranks had not been paid! He cut through the red tape to the delight of the men!

This spirit of alleviating the sufferings of the lower ranks has been the hallmark of his leadership. It was bound to lift morale and boost group performance. So, when he retired and hung up his boots there were many who sought his services, including the Delhi High Court that appointed him on a panel to monitor demolition of unlicensed and illegally constructed structures on government and municipal lands.

Another feature that stands out in this story is his deep feelings of love and affection for his wife and his three daughters. The progress of the girls is minutely recorded at different stages of their journey through life. And unlike most of his contemporaries, the author and his wife seem to have found the time and the means to travel the world at regular intervals of time.

The real tough police work done by Vohra was in his parent cadre of Manipur-Tripura where he served off and on in short but memorable bursts. Before retiring, he headed the police forces of both these states in quick succession. By his accounts, he seemed to have done a commendable job of both assignments. His interactions with the politicians in both states will be of interest to young IPS officers entering service. It is always the most delicate part of our job but if one adheres to ones conscience and justice one should be able to come out unscathed. Vohra has spelt out in detail the operation he mounted against the underground elements in Tripura and neutralized the cadres operating in a certain specified area. That, too, should be of interest to police officers.