Pune: School dreams lead two artists to police band

Two girls, who picked up percussion mallets and the dhol tasha during their school days, are now the only woman members of the 14-member band of the Government Railway Police (GRP), Pune.

Police constables Meenakshi Chavan and Poonam Musale, who play the clarinet, joined as band members in 2017, after the state police department allowed their recruitment. They are the only qualified police band members in Pune and the adjoining districts.

Chavan said her liking for musical instruments began during her school days. “I love music and started playing the dhol-tasha during my school days in Baramati. My parents are farmers and I studied in the local school. As a school student, I developed a liking for drums. I requested my teachers to allow me to play them. I started playing drums for school prayers and annual events. I then started learning the clarinet,” Chavan said.

Chavan completed her BA and joined the state police force as a constable. She then underwent a six-month training at the State Reserve Police Force police band.

Musale said,“ I became a part of the Zilla Parishad school’s band and started playing different instruments. To gain some expertise, I joined classes in Baramati, where I learned to play the clarinet and other instruments. I am concentrating on learning the saxophone.”

Inspector Suresh Gawai of GRP, Pune, said the two execute their duties as policeman, like bandobast and patrolling, and practice during their free time.

Superintendent of police, GRP, Deepak Sakore said, “The two women are performing well with the 14-member band. They are honing their skills and we are encouraging them to be good band members.” Both found it thrilling to play good music during the parade and other ceremonies. “It feels nice when men in uniform march to our rhythms,” they said.