MA English with IPS/IAS Combo 

from Madras Christian College

1st November 2000 | Musings

#memoriesfromdiaries #mcc

On this particular day, the New State of Chhattisgarh—carved out of Madhya Pradesh—came into existence. Raipur is the Capital City of Chhattisgarh.

The late Shri Dinesh Nandan Sahay, an IPS Officer, became the first Governor of Chhattisgarh. Interestingly, he was an MA in English, and a lecturer for a few years, before joining the Indian Police Service in 1960.

This prompts me to do a feature on MA English literature students who later went on to become IAS/IPS Officers of great repute.

First and foremost, Shri Vijay Kumar, IPS, our illustrious alumnus, also did his MA in English, at Madras Christian College, before joining the Indian Police Service on 11th November 1975.

Although he was All India topper in IAS, he opted for the IPS, which he fondly called, Ideal Police Service.

While he was doing his MA Programme in English in Madras Christian College, Dr. Radha Bhat (wife of Dr. Vishnu Bhat, former Head, Department of English, MCC), was his classmate. Dr. Victor Frederick, Former Head, Department of English, MCC, was also his classmate.

In December 2001, he was appointed Commissioner of Police for Chennai. However, his career graph peaked when he was appointed the head of the Special task force titled, ‘Operation Cocoon’, which killed Veerappan in October 2004.  

Shri Vijaya Kumar IPS, was mentored by Mr. Walter Devaram, who again, did his MA in History in Madras Christian College.

Mr. Walter Devaram is famous for having flexed his muscles in curbing the Naxal menace in Tamil Nadu, while he was DIG, and with Intelligence Unit of Tamil Nadu Police.

Secondly, yet another IPS Officer to have done his MA in English at Madras Christian College is Shri K. Muthukaruppan.

Mr. Muthukaruppan, IPS, found himself in the spotlight with the midnight arrest of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Mr. Karunanidhi.

Shri K. Muthukaruppan, who did his MA in English at MCC, was mentored by the legendary Dr. Vishnu Bhat.

As the IPS Officer himself had once said, he was almost a nobody when he entered MCC.

It was (late) Dr. Vishnu Bhat who taught him the basics of literature and guided him in choosing his career, he used to say fondly.

So one day, when Shri Muthukaruppan happened to visit Madambakkam, he wanted to take the opportunity to pay his respects to his professor and hence visited Dr. Vishnu Bhat at his home with his entire family.

Clad in his silk mundu and silk shirt, he entered the house of Dr. Bhat, and the moment he saw his guru, he immediately paid his obeisance and then sat down on the floor, near Dr. Bhat.

His entire family members – his wife and children - followed suit and sat on the floor near him.

Dr. Vishnu Bhat, shocked to the core, said, 

‘Muthu, you are now the Commissioner of Chennai City. You are not a student now’.

To which Shri Muthukaruppan, IPS, replied, 

‘I started here, Sir. I’m always a student to you, and I am proud to be your student, Sir’, 

he remarked.

As they say, “Humility is royalty without a crown.”

These ‘Literary Legends’ are of such mettle!

PS: You may want to read a rich tribute to Dr. Vishu Bhat, by Dr. V. Rajagopalan, [Former HoD, English, MCC], on our past post HERE