MANGALURU: Under the tough khaki exterior beats the heart of a writer and a poet. And this writer-cop writes with rhyme and reason: driving home the need to follow traffic rules. Shanthappa Babu (37), the cop who mans traffic, knows all about lane and line (verses) discipline.
While other traffic cops may not record their experiences, Shanthappa writes them in a small notebook, which are later turned into a poem, an article or a short story.
Despite his gruelling schedule, he makes time to pursue his passion at traffic signals. “My work gives me enough grist to pen poems or write articles,” he says.
A person may end up in his article or in court. He elaborates: “Both sweet and bitter experiences are common on roads and also the subject of my writings. I meet hundreds of people daily and closely observe their behaviour on roads. While I see many educated people caring two hoots for traffic norms, I have also seen many Good Samaritans risking their lives to save others.
All these scenes remain etched in my mind, and I derive ideas from them for my poems and short stories. Sometimes, I just jot them down in a small diary for future reference,” says Shanthappa Babu, adding “I never let my writing affect the job.”
So much so that he has even come out with a book, Masth Maja Traffic, in 2015, which is a collection of his articles book, Masth Maja Traffic, in 2015, which is a collection of his articles of his experiences as a traffic policeman.
He feels humour will convey a message better than any other mode. For instance, he writes on the importance of helmets: “You may get an eye from an eye bank or blood from a blood bank. But you can’t get a head if you lose it in a road accident!”
Or this piece of humour. He observes: “There is no need for a speedbreaker in front of a ‘Women’s College’.
Vehicles automatically slow down!”
Inspired by the writings of Prof Bhuvaneshwari Hegde, a noted humour writer, he peppered his book with humour. His joy knew no bounds when the preface for the book was written by Hegde. Hegde has often lauded Shanthappa in public for striking a fine balance between his challenging job and creative aspirations.
Shanthappa not only writes poems, but also attends poetry sessions and recites poems at literary conferences.
He says that he is able to indulge in his passion, thanks to the support of his colleagues and superiors.
Shanthappa, son of Babu and Yamuna and a resident of Sajipa Padu in Bantwal taluk, joined the police department after completing PUC in 2002.
Though he secured 68 per cent marks, he had to discontinue his education owing to financial constraints. He then set his eyes on a job in the police department. His selection brought joy to him and his family as he is the first person in his family to get a government job.
Now, he has been promoted as head constable and works at Traffic West Police station in Mangaluru.
He is none the verse for mixing his two callings. He enjoys both. After a strenuous day, he is back at his work with new energy and a poem in his heart. His next dream: to publish a book of short stories.