It is not often that I am reminded of a cliché but when my eyes fall on cops on the streets, often rotund, usually bulky, trying to man traffic or maintain law and order, only one expression comes to my mind: enigma of the middle.
Thus it was the other day when I found myself at a busy traffic intersection in New Delhi. A cop, generous around the waist, low on fitness, was trying to bring about a semblance of order to the peak hour traffic. Poor guy! He rushed from right to left, ran in front, stood like a wall too, all this to stop people from moving towards a road which was closed for traffic. He tried his best, but his girth wouldn’t allow him much leeway. He was neither nimble of feet nor even fit enough to do all the running around. He tried gamely though. My heart went out to him. I came out of the traffic sighing though. Ah! The enigma of the middle. My colleague quipped, “He could have put a cup of tea on his belly”! “Tea-time, anytime,” I could not resist adding.
Mine was not a rare occurrence. It is a common enough sight in the Capital. The cops are not, what one used to call in earlier days, battle ready. Many are clearly not able to even run a few metres. So many seem overweight, many others have ample waists and brittle knees. Their size does lend itself to smartness; the trousers seem to double up at the waist; it is not unusual to see men who would have got their pants resized to accommodate their increasing prosperity.
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Then there are cops clearly too old for running around at the time of a rally or a protest. Long of tooth, short of breath, wobbly of knees. They do not inspire much confidence. One understands that policemen, like all of us, age too. And the usual wear and tear of the human body takes its toll on the best of us. But they could do with a dash of smartness, a more robust look, more confidence-inspiring walk; and in general a healthy appearance. Long shot? Most likely. Until then we are caught in the middle of the enigma. Or, should it be the enigma of the middle?