Goa cop hits the road with a microphone, becomes viral star

Ruvina Khan | TNN | Updated: Apr 4, 2020, 04:56 IST

PSI Diego Gracias adapted the lyrics of ‘Mog tuzo kitlo ashelo’ and sings to neighbourhoods about how they should stay home for their own good

PSI Diego Gracias adapted the lyrics of ‘Mog tuzo kitlo ashelo’ and sings to neighbourhoods about how they sho...Read More

VASCO: The sight of a policeman singing, entertaining and enlightening the public from middle of deserted roads has attracted plenty of attention.
Police Sub-Inspector Diego Gracias is winning hearts with his song on coronavirus, modelled on the popular Mog tuzo kitlo ashelo (how much I craved for your love).
In just two days and 15 ‘appearances’ across deserted roads in Vasco, the PSI attached to the Vasco police station has become a hit with people clapping for him from the balconies and verandas of their home. Chief minister Pramod Sawant uploaded the song on his social media pages, while his superiors are delighted that the innovative method of keeping people indoors during the lockdown has worked.
“I’ve been singing for a while, but the songs written by me were all personal. This is the first time I have written a song on a social theme. All this happened due to motivation of Vasco police inspector Nilesh Rane who told all of us to reach out to people differently,” said Gracias.
Gracias, 40, joined the department in 2006 but his singing fame didn’t extend beyond his village of Goa Velha and the police stations where he has been posted. He has participated in tiatrs in Goa Velha and doesn’t lose an opportunity to entertain everyone whenever functions are organised at the police stations.
Gracias follows in the footsteps of DySP Sammy Tavares who has also penned an informative song on the coronavirus.
His song has been doing the rounds of social media for a while now and the police department may soon record these songs and play them on loudspeakers across the state.
“I really appreciate the efforts taken by PSI Gracias in writing and singing this song. This is a very good medium of reaching out to the people”, said South Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas.
Gracias came up with an innovative idea of reaching out to the people, knowing that staying at home for long spells could turn out to be boring. He not just wrote the lyrics of the song – modelled on a song from ‘Mog Moipas’ – but also decided to sing it himself out in the streets.
The song pleads with people to remain indoors and not venture out, explaining the dangers of taking the virus home and risking the lives of their loved ones.
“The song has been presented in 15 different places so far. We plan to cover more areas. Wherever we have gone, the response has been really good”, said Rane.
The Vasco police station has been in the forefront of innovative campaigns in its quest to handle the lockdown in an effective manner. From placards that said, “We are on duty for you, you stay at home for us”, to cops roaming with loud-speakers asking people to co-operate, and now the song.
“Coming from a police officer, this song has brought much bigger awareness than all the news bulletins, advisories put together. He has touched the right chord among the common man with his meaningful lyrics and out-of-the-box awareness campaign”, said Konkani author Daniel de Souza.