Love for nature keeps her anchored
IPS officer Swati Lakra recalls her idyllic childhood and her early exposure to the diversity that is the signature of India
SWATI LAKRA, AN INDIAN POLICE SERVICE OFFICER, JOINED THE IPS IN 1995 AND WORKED AS DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF VISAKHAPATNAM RANGE BEFORE JOINING THE HYDERABAD CITY POLICE. SHE IS KNOWN FOR HER PEOPLE-CENTRIC INITIATIVES AND TOUGH STANCE ON OFFENDERS.
“MY FATHER HAD A TRANSFERABLE JOB, AND HE WANTED US TO HAVE A GOOD STABLE EDUCATION. SO, WHILE HE WAS WORKING IN DIFFERENT PLACES, WE STAYED WITH OUR MOTHER, A HOMEMAKER, IN RANCHI, AND MY SCHOOLING FROM NURSERY TO STD X WAS DONE AT LORETO CONVENT, WHICH PROVIDED ME WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION.”
Swati Lakra is an early riser. Every day, the bureaucrat gets up at the crack of dawn and goes bird-watching. The cooing and chirping of the birds has a soothing effect on her, giving her all the positive energy she needs for the busy day ahead, and the constant demand to stay calm and focussed.
She immerses herself in Mother Nature, strolling through the lush green environs. That’s the ideal me-time for her, she enjoys capturing birds of all colours on her camera and sharing the pictures with her family members.
“I enjoy being in nature. I wish I could travel to exotic places and spend time with nature,” says Swati, Additional DGP, Women’s Safety, including SHE Teams & Bharosa.
Her love of nature stems from the large amount of time she spent outdoors as a child. “In my colony, I used to play with my friends from dawn to dusk. I also enjoyed flying kites, but I was more of a helper to my brother, who was a veteran at kite flying, or so I thought,” she says.
SUCCESS STARTS WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION
Swati grew up in a very sheltered environment. She is the youngest of three siblings and as such, was quite pampered as a child. “My father had a transferable job, and he wanted us to have a good stable education. So, while he was working in different places, we stayed with our mother, a home-maker, in Ranchi, and my schooling from Nursery to Std X was done at Loreto Convent, which provided me with a solid foundation,” she recalls.
When she thinks about her childhood, the 1995-batch IPS officer’s eyes light up. “I grew up in a colony that was a miniature India, with residents hailing from all over the country,” she says. “I recall exchanging pickles with families from other regions.” She would dip her dirty hands into the pickle jar when her mother wasn’t looking, take out a handful of pickled mango pieces, wrap them in newspaper and give it to her friends in exchange for specialities from their respective regions. “I got to taste Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Tamil pickles,” says Swati. “Their tamarind, ber, and mango pickles were delicious.”
The young girl was a quick learner and she picked up a few languages while spending time at friends’ homes.
As a child, she also devoured books by Enid Blyton and the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, and later, the Agatha Christie novels. “I still like to read books, but they’re more philosophical, like Khalil Gibran and Paulo Coelho,” Swati says.
WATERSHED MOMENT IN HER LIFE
“I GREW UP IN A COLONY THAT WAS A MINIATURE INDIA, WITH RESIDENTS HAILING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I RECALL EXCHANGING PICKLES WITH FAMILIES FROM OTHER REGIONS. I GOT TO TASTE BENGALI, GUJARATI, PUNJABI, AND TAMIL PICKLES. THEIR TAMARIND, BER, AND MANGO PICKLES WERE DELICIOUS.”
Encouraged by her father, Swati applied to Lady Sriram College in New Delhi after school. “It gave me a lot of exposure and the confidence I needed,” she says. “It was a watershed in my life, and I began preparing for my civil services examinations after watching others study,” explains the police officer.
She enjoys discovering new places and learning about new cultures, cuisine, and history. “I’ve always been fascinated by ancient ruins. Given the opportunity, I would like to learn more about these places,” she says.
“LADY SRIRAM COLLEGE WAS A WATERSHED IN MY LIFE, AND I BEGAN PREPARING FOR MY CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS AFTER WATCHING OTHERS STUDY,” EXPLAINS THE POLICE OFFICER.
SIMPLE LIVING AND HIGH THINKING
She has a strong interest in musical instruments and enjoys music as well. “Depending on my mood, I enjoy listening to a variety of music, including classical, ghazal, sufi, country and Bollywood,” says Swati, who also finds time to watch movies though she’s not a big fan of films.
Describing herself as ‘as a simple woman who enjoys life,’ the no-nonsense officer says “I’m also a go-getter. If I want something done, I do it.”
Swati is married to Benhur Mahesh Dutt Ekka, also an IAS officer. Her children — Stuti and Pratiti — are her biggest stress relievers. “Lying on their lap is my biggest stress reliever,” says the officer, who also practises meditation.
She is a fitness freak who works out for 45 minutes to an hour. “I try to eat in moderation throughout the day” she adds.
She begins her day with soaked seeds, almonds, and walnuts. She enjoys non-vegetarian cuisine, particularly chicken dishes.
Ask her what profession she would have chosen had she not been a bureaucrat, and the IPS officer says she would have liked to have been a teacher.
SWATI, WHO RECEIVED THE PRESIDENT'S POLICE MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN 2021, SAYS HER CHILDREN — STUTI AND PRATITI — ARE HER BIGGEST STRESS RELIEVERS. “LYING ON THEIR LAP IS MY BIGGEST STRESS RELIEVER,” SAYS THE OFFICER, WHO ALSO PRACTISES MEDITATION.