In loving memory of my Dad

Mr. R.S.Sahaye IPS

(16th January, 1945  -  9th June, 2000)

Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure,

you are loved beyond words & missed beyond measures!

Barely a year after his birth in Lahore (1945), this infant was torn between the partition of India and Pakistan. He survived the onslaughts and migrated to Punjab with his parents to start a new life. He grew up to be a brilliant student and one of the youngest among his fellow classmates in Ludhiana, Punjab. Son of an Engineer, he often topped the university in academics and started teaching as a lecturer in English (1965-1968). He was a prankster, yet simple & honest at heart, who was destined to do bigger things in life. He Mastered in arts with English as his subject and was very fond of reading the likes of Robert Ludlum, Agatha Cristie and Ian Fleming among others.  He also enjoyed listening to the Beatles, Abba, BoneyM and Indian legends Mohd. Rafi and Jagjit Singh as his favorites.

A little reluctant for lack of preparations and some insistence by his brothers, he gave exams for the élite Indian civil services and got selected with a very high score.  He went on to join the Indian Police services in July, 1968. Apart from the stringent training schedule at the Police academy in Mt. Abu (Rajasthan, India), he took special interest in cultural activities and was quite popular among his batchmates for his skills, wit, singing and above all a very jovial nature. He put his heart and soul in the profession and became known for solving highly complicated & sensitive cases in his career. He was the 1st Superintendent of Police (SP) for East Delhi District and was later the chief of detectives at the Crime Branch of Delhi Police (DCP), where he created a record for the longest and most successful tenure in the department. He consistently got a Distinction in ACR’s (Annual Confidential Reports) throughout the career and was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious services (Republic Day, 1984) and later the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services (Independence day, 1992),  the highest police honor in the country. His reputation of being a thoroughly upright, effective and non-political  nature, sought him both - accolades (for those who valued his work) and many frequent transfers (for whom he was more of an “Inconvenience”).

Throughout his tenures, he always kept his family close to his heart and took them along wherever he was posted, be it the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (first as ASP in 1971-72 and then again as IGP in 1990-91), Chandigarh (1977-80) or even while he became the 1st Director General of Police (DGP) of Goa (1999-2000). His intense loving, protective, selfless and caring attitude towards the family was astonishing, considering the round the clock working hours and dealing with many hardened criminals at work. He was also a very religious, disciplined, grounded, practical, diligent and a farsighted person who never allowed his children to go astray with all the power.

He passed away at a very early age of 55 years with a massive heart attack, while at the peak of his career but left behind his uncompromising values and ideals that guide us to live with humility and self-respect. Today, ten years have gone by without him and we can still feel his warmth and love around us.

I now, firmly believe that taking care of your loved ones (especially parents) is true religion. We often pray to a God, we’ve never seen and overlook the unrelenting love and sacrifice that our parents have given for our future. If only, I had that one extra moment with my “Papa” and seize it forever.