‘Respect their uniform’: Gulzar’s ode to police personnel fighting Covid to keep India safe

Calling them 'corona warriors', writer, poet and lyricist Gulzar urges the citizens of India to salute and revere police personnel as they risk their lives for us.

(L-R): Policemen feeding a stray dog; Gulzar at a song launch | ThePrint

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown on 24 March, which has since been extended twice, India has been reeling under the impact. The plight of migrant workers, the loss of revenue faced by several business owners and the lack of adequate PPE kits for frontline workers are just some of the problems the country is dealing with.

Renowned poet, lyricist and writer Gulzar has been penning his thoughts on the crises. He had earlier written about how we should be hopeful and helpful to our neighbours as well as take care of stray animals. And now, he has written and recorded a heartfelt ode to the police of the country, whom he calls corona warriors.

In a video posted on Facebook, Gulzar spoke of how we depend on the police for help and how they are our first port of call in an emergency. He spoke of how, in the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, the police have been out there, risking their lives for our safety.

Thank You Corona Warriors – The Police Force

आपसे एक ज़रूरी बात कहना है, कि पुलिस-मैन एक मुहाफ़िज़ का नाम है, हिफ़ाज़त करने वाले का.. वो एक मददगार है, मदद करता है.. उस मुहाफ़िज़ की, उस मददगार की, उस पुलिस-मैन की इज़्ज़त करना, एहतराम करना, हर शहरी का फ़र्ज़ बनता हैमौज़ूदा हालात में वो आपकी हिफ़ाज़त के लिये खुद को खतरे में डाल कर ड्यूटी कर रहे हैं… चौक पर, चौराहे पर, सड़क पर.. ऐसी-ऐसी गलियों में जहां महामारी के हॉट्स्पॉट हैं, जहां आपको जाने की इजाज़त नहीं है, वहां जा-जा कर वो बंदोबस्त कर रहे हैं ..उनकी इस कुरबानी के लिये उनको सलाम कीजिये, उनकी वर्दी को इज़्ज़त दीजियेप्लीज़, शुक्रिया!Aapse ek zaroori baat kahna hai, ki policeman ek muhaafiz kaa naam hai, hifaazat karane waale kaa.. wo ek madad-gaar hai, madad karataa hai.. Us muhaafiz ki, us madad-gaar ki, us policeman kI izzat karna, aihataraam karna, har shahari ka farz banta haiMauzuda haalaat me wo aapki hifaazat ke liye khud ko khatare me daal kar duty kar rahe hain… Chauk par, chauraahe par, sadak par.. aisi-aisi galiyon me jahaa.n mahaamaari ke Hotspots hain, jahaa.n aap ko jaane kI ijaazat nahi hai, wahaa.n jaa-jaa kar wo bandobast kar rahe hain ..Unki is kurabaani ke liye unko salaam kijiye, unki vardi ko izzat dIjiyePlease, Shukriya! -gcc Ajay Jain

Gulzar यांनी वर पोस्ट केले शनिवार, २ मे, २०२०

Translated to English, the message says:

Friends!

I want to talk to you about something very important.

A policeman is a guardian, someone who protects. He is there to help. When we are in an emergency or a difficult situation, we look around for a cop, hoping for some assistance. When an incident or accident happens, we run to inform the police. Right?

So it is the duty of every city dweller to respect and revere that that helper, that protector.

In any city, when there is a bad situation, a riot, a fire, any violence, the police are the first ones to reach the scene. And in today’s times, they are risking their lives to do their duty and protect you. At every crossing and street corner, in lanes that have been declared infection hotspots, at places that you are not allowed to go, they are there.

For this sacrifice, salute them, and respect their uniform. Please.

Thank you.