Reporter's Diary: Cops don’t let language barrier come in way of duty

Andar jaana hai (we want to go in), says a man, holding his wife’s hand tightly. An officer on duty nudges his colleague for help as he seems more proficient in the language. The second cop, equally distraught, studies their reports and reluctantly lets them in. It looks like an added task for the day for him, as he manages the crowd and adeptly switches languages. 

Then a family of five, speaking in chaste Urdu, use sign language to express their desire to get inside  the hospital. They list a set of tests they have carried out, hinting that they have to meet the doctor with the results. 

The senior cop yet again summons the junior colleague, who promptly steps in and gives a blank look. The exercise continues all day and both the cops look tired, but they don’t give up. They are relieved when they hear the patients speaking in Tamil or at least a smattering of English, but the relief is short lived, considering the number of patients who come from across the country. 

Yet, the two cops gracefully share the baton of bridging the language divide with a smile. Some things are beyond experience.