While the girls of her age played with dolls and soft toys, Rukmini Galande adored and revered the National flag. Right from her childhood, whenever the tri colour was hoisted, she felt elevated and a sense of pride used to engulf her. Although she was too young to decide about her career at that time, she nurtured a deep desire to serve the nation. Little did she know that not only will she join the police force but will have the distinction of many ‘firsts’ in her career.
Sr. Police Inspector, Sanpada police station, Navi Mumbai Rukmini M. Galande, was brought-up in a small village Agalave wadi in Jawali Talku. Youngest sibling and the most pampered one in the house, Rukmini, loved to study and would walk 30 kms to reach her College.
“Those days were tough as well as fascinating. We would walk through muddy puddles to reach our College which was almost 30 km from our home. There was just one bus service and if we missed that, we would miss College. I always made efforts to get up well before time so I don’t miss that bus,” recalls Ms Galande with a smile. This daily exercise, she feels, inculcated in her a sense of self discipline, grit and determination.
Remembering her fascination for the National flag, she says, “I was just 4-year-old when the tri colour was being hoisted on 26th January in the school premises. I was very upset as I was not given the opportunity to hoist the Flag. Our principal saw my grumbled face and asked me to come on stage. He held my hand and together we hoisted the flag. Looking at me he said I am sure you will serve the nation one day. I was overjoyed with his words.”
With these words imprinted deeply in her mind, Rukmini completed her B.Com. and started looking for avenues. The parents, however, had different plans for her. “I remember I had just given my final examination of B.Com and my parents started looking for a suitable match. But I had different plans and dreams for myself- the dream of serving the Nation,” says Ms Galande.
One of her uncle was in Army and lived in Pune. With an aim to get guidance from him she went to Pune. It was during her stay in Pune she saw an advertisement for MPC examination.
“Although I was not very sure, I still sat for the examination. I cleared physical rounds and even gave interview before returning back to my native place,” says Ms Galande.
She was not sure if she would clear the MPC rounds. Nor did she tell her family that she had given the examination.
“I was waiting eagerly for my B.Com results. I remember Diwali was approaching and my father had gone to market to get few things for the festival. However, he returned back very soon along with few villagers who were cheering and had gulal on their faces. It was neither an election period nor Holi, so we were all confused. As soon as my father entered the house he hugged me and said aloud that I have made him so proud. It was then I realized that I had cleared my MPC exam with good marks and the entire village was celebrating,” she says with a smile.
This marked the beginning of her journey as a police cop and her desire to serve the nation.
On January 1, 1990 Ms. Galande was the first woman to be posted at the airport security, and since then there have been many such ‘firsts’ in her career. She was first lady PI to be posted in Traffic department 2004-2008, First lady PI in Highway traffic 2010-2013, First lady PI in Special Protection Unit (SPU), first to conduct Police Didi programme for minor children and spreading awareness on POSCO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012), First lady PRO in the DG office, first lady PRO for ADG Highway Traffic, first lady PRO Addl CP Eastern Region. At Naigon HQ she started India’s first rain harvesting project in 2009 and initiated an entertainment room for Cancer affected people. Ms Galande has more than 120 rewards to her credit.
Talking about her dual role as tough cop and a mother, Ms. Galande says that she ensures that these roles do not get inter-mixed. “Being a woman I have many responsibilities. Nevertheless, I never let family come in between my duty towards my nation. However, that does not mean I ignore my family. I believe that maintaining a balance is the mantra. And of course, without a supportive family, guidance of seniors, it would have not been possible to climb the success ladder,” adds Ms. Galande with a smile.
