Subhash Shindes khaki uniform hides the heart of a poet. This policeman,who has just been promoted from constable to police sub-inspector,has penned over 100 Marathi poems,around 10-15 short stories and a couple of plays. I was always inclined to such activities and had written my first poem as a schoolboy. In college,I started writing poems regularly. I remember at that age,my poems were typically based on love and romance, he says with a grin. What made him join the police force? Shinde,a graduate in Marathi literature,answers with a chuckle,The credit goes to the movie Zanjeer starring Amitabh Bachchan. I had seen the movie as a teenager and the role of a police officer in society impressed me. After the movie,I decided I wanted to be a police officer and joined the department in 1991. Shinde is pursuing a Masters in Marathi literature through a correspondence course. Where does he draw inspiration for his poems? I manage to see poetic potential in any situation I come across. A few years ago,I witnessed a retirement ceremony for some police officers and saw how moved they were at finally giving up the uniform. Their emotions inspired a poem. Apart from such situations,I have also penned poems on the 26/11 attacks,the Kargil War and many other situations we are exposed to in life, says Shinde. In spite of a tough life in the police department for 19 years,Shinde has lost none of his poetic fervour. It is true that the life of a policeman is full of difficulties and stress. However,I always make sure I do not ignore the poet in me. However,Shinde has not been able to publish any of his works due to financial constraints. Except the last page of the daily police notes,which list the day to day affairs of the police department,my poems have not appeared anywhere, he says with a shrug.
