Submitted by: Submitted by MaqAli
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Date Submitted: 08/29/2010 11:31 PM
A Tribute to Mr. R.M.Patnaik , DGP of Orissa -- The Road Safety Beacon
--- ( by Syed Maqbool Ali. State Secretary , PASO ; Former Member, National Road Safety Council , Govt. of india ; & Former Member , All India Road Safety Programme Implementation Committee , Govt. of India )
“ I am happy to meet you Mr. Ali ; I heard many nice things about you and your work on Road Safety ; we should meet more often and spend some time together ”, were the introductory words of a smiling Mr. RM Patnaik , DIG of Police who had graced a Seminar on Road Safety at Cuttack ; and who was known as the ‘Tiger’ in the Police ranks !
This was way back in 1984, and his guidance, support and enthusiasm fostered the real start to PASO – Prevention of Accidents Society, Orissa - then a tottering 2 year old organisation with dedicated individuals , but no beacon to show the way .
It was in the second meeting itself that we cemented our relationships at the Police Training School , Bhubaneswar - Bhaina giving way to Sir and Mr. Ali to Maqbool. But in all formal meetings he always addressed me as Mr. Ali. That was what Bhaina was --- a disciplined person , with a disciplined way of thinking !
It is difficult to write in the past about someone who is still very much alive in my thoughts and in my thinking ! But Bhaina was a delight to be with and very focussed in his directions. He continuously encouraged the concept of Road Safety to be instilled in all school going children, in media persons who could then take the movement forward and in the involvement of the government. Hence PASO pushed for the Commissionerate system for the twin cities , the allotting of compounding power to Police sub-inspectors and Road Safety education in schools .
Bhaina’s humour was very classy and subtle . He once told me in a whisper during a State level Seminar ; “ this guy speaks as if he is dealing with school kids , and the more he opens his mouth the more he confirms his...