Centenarian IPS Veteran Recalls Tactical Victory Over Chambal Dacoits
Bhopal: "Constable Atmaram fired from the LMG when dacoit Chota Nathu raised his SLR." The man recounting this precise moment from a 1969 gunfight in the treacherous Chambal ravines is 100 years old. Former Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police Harivallabh Mohanlal Joshi, believed to be the last surviving officer from India's inaugural Indian Police Service batch of 1948, exhibits remarkable clarity and precision in his memories of anti-dacoity operations that shaped law enforcement in central India.
The Inaugural IPS Cohort and a Lasting Legacy
On March 5, Joshi celebrated his centenary, marking nearly eight decades since he took oath as part of the pioneering group of 39 officers who formally replaced the colonial-era Imperial Police. Despite his age, he remains steady on his feet, requires minimal assistance, and retains the authoritative voice of a commander who once led battalions across challenging terrain. A small whistle around his neck serves for household calls, but his recollections carry the weight of historical policing milestones.
Strategic Coordination That Crushed the Jagmohan Gang
Appointed as Deputy Inspector General of Gwalior Range on May 13, 1969, Joshi inherited a region severely affected by banditry across seven districts. His predecessor had faced unsuccessful operations against the notorious Jagmohan Tomar gang. Joshi's breakthrough came through an informer motivated by personal grievance—Jagmohan had molested his sister—who revealed a critical tactical flaw exploited by dacoits.
"They were taking advantage of the lack of coordination between the Superintendents of Police of Bhind and Morena," Joshi explained. "When operations intensified in Bhind, they would sneak into Morena and lie low. When action was taken in Morena, they moved back to Bhind."
Joshi closed this gap by orchestrating coordinated action with both SPs, resulting in the elimination of 17 dacoits, including Jagmohan Tomar himself.
Comprehensive Anti-Dacoity Campaign and Innovations
As DIG, Joshi launched sustained campaigns that transformed police capabilities in the Chambal belt. His strategic enhancements included:
- Strengthening Special Armed Force units with Light Machine Guns at section level
- Introducing 2-inch mortars, Self-Loading Rifles, and sniper rifles
- Improving mobility through cross-country troop carriers
- Intensifying night firing and ambush drills
- Expanding informer networks and ensuring detailed operational debriefings
- Recruiting Sahariya tribals for their expert knowledge of the ravines
- Strengthening village defence committees
During three intense years under his leadership, police eliminated over 300 dacoits, arrested more than 500, and secured numerous surrenders. Joshi personally led the operation against Chota Nathu, earning the President's Police and Fire Services Medal for gallantry alongside the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
The Greater Achievement: Mass Surrender and Humane Approach
Despite these combat successes, Joshi insists his greater accomplishment was facilitating peaceful surrenders. Sustained pressure and outreach culminated in the 1972 surrender of more than 300 dacoits before social reformer Jayaprakash Narayan in Jaura. He strictly instructed against false encounters, advocated humane treatment for those willing to lay down arms, and pushed for development initiatives in the Chambal region.
Later, he played a key role in framing the Madhya Pradesh Dacoity and Violent Prevention of Property Act, 1981, which targeted those harboring dacoits.
Career Spanning Counter-Insurgency to Police Reforms
Born on March 5, 1926, in Ralawata village of the erstwhile princely state of Kishangarh, Rajasthan, Joshi completed his BA in Akola, pursued studies at Allahabad University, and earned his MA in English from Morris College, Nagpur, in 1948. Before joining the IPS, he worked with Lokmat newspaper and Krishak monthly magazine, and briefly served as a lecturer.
His distinguished career extended beyond the Chambal operations to include:
- Counter-insurgency assignments in Nagaland and Manipur
- Command of Madhya Pradesh Police battalions in Jammu & Kashmir
- Leadership roles culminating in his retirement as DGP of Madhya Pradesh in March 1984
Post-retirement, he introduced significant reforms including minimum three promotions for subordinates, weekly public interaction sessions, upgraded police stations, improved traffic constable uniforms, and strengthened welfare measures for personnel and their families.
Literary Contributions and Personal Anecdotes
Beyond his policing duties, Joshi authored "Geeta Chintan," a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, and translated lectures of Swami Vivekananda at the Police Academy in Mount Abu, published as "Mahapurushon ki Jeevan Gathaye."
He recalls with amusement an episode where hundreds of gallantry medals recommended for Madhya Pradesh Police were delayed in New Delhi. "I went to the then secretary to home, Rustamji, and told him that the delay was demoralizing policemen," Joshi said. "It was then that he informed me about a President's medal that was kept for me too."
As India's oldest living IPS officer, Harivallabh Mohanlal Joshi stands as a living bridge between the colonial policing system and modern Indian law enforcement, his century of life encompassing both the violent challenges of dacoity eradication and the philosophical depth of spiritual literature.
