Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Nov 17: The usually calm premises of a junior college in Kundapur came alive with an unusual sight—dozens of police personnel holding not lathis, but banna kada?i (colour pencils). What seemed at first like security arrangements for a VIP visit turned out to be a creative retreat for the district police.
Responding to the call by Karnataka’s Director General of Police M A Saleem, who recently stressed that police must remain sarjanika snehi (public-friendly), Udupi district police have begun organising various activities beyond routine duty—ranging from a month-long naturopathy wellness programme to a special screening of Kantara for women staff and a police sports meet. The latest in this series: a first-of-its-kind cartoon workshop.
Police work does not come with fixed hours. Officers work through day and night shifts, often without festival holidays or family leave. Managing traffic, handling crowds, responding to complaints, conducting investigations—relentless duties leave little space for mental rest. The workshop aims to relieve stress, encourage creativity, and help officers reconnect with joy and humour.
The concept was inspired by a suggestion from noted cartoonist Satish Acharya, whose proposal to engage police in creative expression was warmly approved by superintendent of police Hari Ram Shankar.
A caricature exhibition has been organised from November 15 to 19 at the Kalamandira, featuring works by professional and amateur cartoonists from Kundapur and across the region. Titled Khakige ondu Cartoon Salute (A Cartoon Salute to the Khaki), the exhibition showcases cartoons by Satish Acharya, Keshav Sasihitlu, Chandra Gangolli, Panju Gangolli, Chandrashekhar Shetty, Chandra S Kody, and artists such as Nanjunda Swami, K R Swami, Jeevan, Raghuputi Sringeri and Shantanu Kalubi.
Visitors—including the general public—were also encouraged to try their hand at sketching and writing captions. Students and parents took part in separate competitions.
For the first time in Udupi district, more than 65 police personnel from various stations sat together sketching, colouring, and learning the basics of cartoon creation. Trainers guided them on simple drawing techniques and visual storytelling. One of the exercises challenged them to script a humorous response from a policeman catching a thief inside his own home—a scenario drawn in jest to spark imagination.
The cartoon festival was inaugurated on Saturday by ADGP Dayananda. It will run at Kundeshwar Deepadavare until November 19.
“This programme is designed to give our personnel a much-needed break from the pressures of duty. Thanks to Satish Acharya’s cartoon habba (cartoon festival) and this year’s theme ‘Cartoon Salute to the Khaki,’ our staff had a rare opportunity to draw, laugh, and unwind,” said Udupi SP Hari Ram Shankar.