Aruna tipped to be the first DGP of Telangana

Aruna Bahuguna has reached the top echelons of the police department by serving with grit and determination so well, so long. She is in the race to be the first DGP of the Telangana state and according to highly placed sources, she is being considered as the first choice for the post. She made a mark for herself as the first woman head of the national police Academy, premier training institute of the Indian police service and also as the Special Director General of the CRPF. With a proven track record in problem solving, the top cop is waiting in her wings to lead the police of the new state of Telangana

Aruna Bahuguna, one of Andhra Pradesh’s highest-ranked woman police officers, smiles proudly as she recounts her journey to the top of the ladder of the police force. She held various positions including the Additional DGP in the AP Special Police and the special director-general at the CRPF.

The 56-year-old is a 1979-batch IPS officer. Aruna is the first woman to serve as the director of the National Police Academy (NPA), also known as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA). The high-level board of the NPA comprises senior civil servants, police officers and eminent educationists as its members and is headed by the Union Home Secretary. She is tipped to be the first DGP of the new State of Telangana. The Union Home Secretary had already met her in this connection.

The front runners for the post were DG-rank officers, including Umesh Kumar, Ashok Prasad, TP Das, Aruna Bahuguna, Prasada Rao, SA Huda, NR Wasan, K Durga Prasad, AK Khan and J V Ramudu in the order of seniority.

Of these officials, only Aruna Bahugua is from Telangana and Prasada Rao, Durga Prasad, AK Khan and Ramudu are from the Seemandhra region. The remaining officers are from other states.

Aruna who studied in St George’s Grammar School, Abids, had the traits of being a leader right from her young age. She was appointed school captain and spent most of her evenings at the Fateh Maidan.

When she cleared her probation for the IPS, Aruna was the only woman from the AP cadre. She had to prove her mettle with her male counterparts and bosses. Long hours of physical and mental stress along with responsibilities of her family did not deter her.

An incident which she can never forget is when she lost her first husband in an accident and she slipped into a coma. Bouncing back to her normal life was a miracle for her and Aruna considers that this is the reason why she works with a lot of compassion.

Aruna’s parents have been her pillar of strength who believed in equal rights with no gender bias. With their support, Aruna pursued higher education and eventually obtained a master’s degree. She loves playing golf and enjoys music too. What many people don’t know is that she is a qualified pianist too. Aruna is a well-known police officer and is recognised for her honesty and her desire to help people.

“I showed that I was not overly sensitive and that I could act tough in certain situations. Attributes that are considered to be more feminine are sensitivity towards other’s emotions and interpersonal skills that lead to an increased ability to communicate with others effectively. Men are generally known to be more physical and gruff as a form of communication, while women are more known to talk out their problems, leaving the physical altercations as a last resort. In part this may be due to the fact that women have to use words over physical force, as most of us don't carry the physical stature that men do giving them a more tactical advantage for fighting. But I also think that women more naturally turn to talking out a problem before jumping to physical action. This is where women shine in police work.”

Talking about herself and fellow women around her, Aruna expressed fear that, “We hold ourselves back. If women do not have the dedication to climb the ranks of law enforcement, they will rarely succeed at making the climb. Women need to forge their own path, for they truly are responsible for their own career and lives.”

Aruna understands that one of the main reasons why only a few women have the necessary aspirations to be a law enforcement executive is because of the long working hours and family obligations. She does believe that more women are not necessary for a police force to function properly.

“The police’s first priority is to emulate the community we serve. Thus far, the small percentage of women in the force impede this from happening,” she said.

Solving a case and giving victims some type of closure is what Aruna finds most rewarding.

“It all comes down to helping people and stopping other people from becoming victimised. The best part of police work, is just seeing the difference you can make in someone’s life. You see people at their absolute worst at times. To be able to help that person a little bit, make their experience less troublesome than it could be, is very satisfying,” emphasised Aruna.