At 99 and set to attain 100 on March 5, H M Joshi, India’s lone surviving member of the first post-Independence IPS batch and former Director General of Police of Madhya Pradesh, continues to inspire. Residing in Bhopal, the veteran officer who tamed the dreaded Chambal dacoits spoke exclusively to Whispers in the Corridors, recounting his service and voicing hopes for a communal hatred-free, peaceful society.

Joshi joined the Madhya Pradesh cadre in September 1948 as Probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police in Sagar, performing duties from Sepoy to Sub-Divisional Officer. As DIG Gwalior Range in 1969, he crafted a humane anti-dacoity strategy — “no fake encounters” — that led to real operations and, in the 1980s, the surrender of over 400 dacoits. For his gallantry, he received the President’s Police Medal.

Now frail, with weakened eyesight and hearing, Joshi still begins each day with a walk and reads newspapers voraciously, having stopped watching TV five years ago.

On policing, he is candid: “Madhya Pradesh Police still has a good name, but with the commissioner system and big officers, we need more Investigation Officers. Every Thana must have at least three IOs; strengthen the sub-inspector who does the real work.”

He advocates devolving power to people on the mayoral model of America, England and Germany. While appreciating RSS discipline and its organisational strength that helped it dominate 15 states, Joshi laments excessive political mudslinging. “Gandhiji is dragged into controversy — one side calls him Bapu, the other criticises him. Modi ji quotes him ten times, yet some from his party insult him. This hurts,” he said.

Above all, the centenarian prays for peace. “Seventy-five years after Independence, we should have understood: call it water, jal, pani or nira — it is the same. Hindu, Muslim, Jain — what difference? The Gita is a textbook on yoga, not religion; teach it to remove discrimination. Let there be no communal hatred. This is my only wish.”