Tribune News Service
Ambala, November 13
They believe in the adage "duty before self". This Diwali, like previous Diwalis and for that matter any other festival, they will be out in the field, away from their families, ensuring that other people can celebrate the festival with their loved ones in a safe and secure environment.
These always-on the-job professionals are police officers, firefighters and doctors, whose role becomes all the important during the festival of lights. Police officer Inderjeet Singh says his is a 24-hour job. "Any mishap during Diwali and the first call goes to the police. Cops are on their toes. It's our duty and we swore to do it while joining the force. So there are no two ways about it," he says firmly.
He will burst crackers at his place of posting, but will miss the company of his wife and children. "Diwali is synonymous with the family get-together," he says with resignation.
Firefighter Sewak Ram has a similar story to tell. For him, celebrating the festival with his family is simply out of question. When his children were small, he says, they threw tantrums and insisted that he returned home early on Diwali. Most of the times, he would be on duty.
"Unfortunately, fire mishaps take place every Diwali. So my colleagues and I are on duty well into the night trying to save lives," Ram says.
Paramilitary force personnel, however, follow a different strain of thought. Most of them are posted away from their hometowns. A guard deployed as a security guard of a local official says: "I can enjoy a few festive moments with the family I'm working for." For doctors, duty is paramount. Paediatrician Dr AP Singh says, "To serve patients is in itself a celebration of Diwali. The family is always there, but somebody has to come forward to help society in times of need."
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3kwftVV
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