Ashok Kumar

Man who made rapid inroads to help the society is truly a deserving persona to be idealized for his determination, perseverance and his commitment to serve the society.
Hailing from the small village of Kurana, at Panipat district in Haryana, it was 'a dream come true' for Ashok Kumar to be an IITian. However, when Kumar realized his interest was in serving the people, he decided to join the Indian Police Service (IPS). Kumar received his primary education from a village school and went on to pursue a B.Tech. in mechanical engineering and an M.Tech. in thermal engineering from Indian Institute of Technology- Delhi
(IIT-Delhi). He was awarded with the best writer of the year award in 1986-87 at IIT-Delhi. He is an avid reader of Hindi, English, Bangla and Russian  literature. His other interests include Badminton, Tennis, Riding and organizing sports events.
Mr. Ashok Kumar (IPS), till recently has served in the capacity of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Garwhal and IGP Kumaon. He is presently on deputation with the Central Reserve Police Force in Delhi. He joined the Indian Police Service in 1989 and took up various challenging assignments in the states of UP and Uttarakhand. He received the UN Medal for serving in strife torn Kosovo in the year 2001. He was honored with the Indian Police Medal in the year 2006 by the President of India for his long and meritorious services for Indian Police .
He believes that it is difficult for an individual to take career decisions at the school level as it is little tedious for an ordinary to introspect and decide what one wants to pursue in one's life.  Until and unless one is extremely clear and focus in one's future goals.  Decisions at an early stage are primarily guided by others. It's only on-the-job when one realizes the nuances of a job and can decide on the future prospects to be carried on for the rest of the life. According to Kumar, IIT teaches one to be effective, efficient and excellent in every walk of life, and this helped Kumar in becoming a successful IPS. He efficiently handled the responsibilities of an IPS  and realized that his strength lies in helping the poor, the needy and the suppressed.
Mr. Kumar quips, “As I had put in more years of service in the police force, at various stations, in various capacities, it became quite clear to me that despite of all the odds, I had been able to make a difference in the lives of the common man and this has always been my goal.” Kumar authored the book, “Human in Khaki”, with Lokesh Ohri, a writer, anthropologist and arts and heritage activist. The book is not a biography and also it is not a work of research. It does not seek to preach anyone, but just strings together anecdotes and thoughts from a policeman's life in the hope that society as a whole may gain from this effort of a written real life experience.
Emphasizing the need of a pro-active people-oriented policing, Dr. Kiran Bedi released the book- “Human in Khaki”, a book of 163 pages, published by Bookworld, Dehradun. The book is hard-hitting as it speaks on the contemporary issues and the changing value system of the society that bedevils the society today. Authored by
Mr. Ashok Kumar (IPS) with Mr. Lokesh Ohri, the book urges the common man to know about his rights.
The Book allows the public at large to peep into the working of the Indian Police. The book serves as a mirror to men in uniform. It portrays the functioning of the Indian Police and at the same time also encourages the common man to ensure his/her safety. The book's appeal holds equally for the government officials and for the ordinary citizens who in turn expect good governance.
The meticulously woven stories describe the varying and challenging outcomes which could have been worse, had the officers not been sensitive and perceptive to the needs of the ordinary individuals approaching them without the usual crutches of wealth or influence.

Covering all contemporary issues corrupting the society today- from terrorism to kidnaping, land grabbing to women's molestation, incidents of harassment by SMSs to eve teasing, extortion to corruption, the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots and its impact on society - 'Human in  Khaki' is an eye-opener for not only the masses but also for the police officials. It talks candidly about the erosion of values in society today and also the struggles of a common man who wish  to stand up for simple yet essential values that bind this country tightly, despite its screaming contrasts and inequities.
The book makes a good policeman to quiz himself on the following note-worthy questions:
1. Will my actions be good for the society?
2. Will my actions help the person who is in need?
3. Will my actions bring relief to the victim?
4. Will my actions deter the wrongdoer?
When the answers of these questions positively echo in one's heart, one can certainly boast of being a good policeman who has justified his existence & purpose.
The gripping narrative, written in a simple and lucid style, brings out happenings of real-life situations from  a distinguished career, spanning over twenty years, in the Indian Police Force of an IITian turned cop, who adopted a humane approach to public service, trying to create a culture of people-friendly policing. “Human in Khaki” is a collection of select 16 short stories setting a precedent on how police officers uphold their human sensitivity while dealing with people and look at the problem from the victim's point of view and it is through this approach, the system in turn delivers the results. Undoubtedly, Kumar has not only proved his merit by excelling in studies but beautifully used the learning in a pragmatic way for the benefit of the society.