“The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.”

Vishwas Narayan Nangre-Patil, an IPS officer of the 1997 cadre and recently appointed as the Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai (Law & Order) exemplifies the face a quintessential, competent police officer who has not only endeared himself to the rank and file of his department but has also earned a reputation as an officer with a humane and sensitive mind.

Nangre-Patil carries with him an impeccable record that comes from a long saga of an undaunted struggle. Starting as an aspirant UPSC candidate in pursuit of a career in the police force to an officer having won the coveted President’s Police Medal for gallantry for his fearless role in the counter-terrorist operations during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, he is a ray of hope and role model for youngsters who want to carve out a name in the rough and tumble of life.

Nangre-Patil (47) is a self-made man. Self discipline, hard working, honest and faithful to his work have been his trusted lieutenants in his dogged march towards his goal posts. Regarded as an officer with acumen, he is by his own admission, open to continuous learning and evolving. He has what it takes to be a winner.

Having served in both the rural and urban areas of the state, the dashing police officer has left the stamp of his meritorious work in every capacity. Restless to a fault, he was among the first to rush to the Taj Hotel when it was besieged with terrorists and there was fear over the metropolis. Then, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), Mumbai he had rushed to the spot with ill-equipped and ill-prepared personnel and shot a terrorist during the encounter. It was an act of exceptional courage even by the standards of those days. The Ministry of Home Affairs Committee did not even need a discussion before adjudging Nangre Patil as the winner of the President’s Gallantry Medal.

Earlier, in 2007, as the Superintendent of Police (Rural), he and a team of 100 policemen raided a rave party being held in a private farm and arrested over 280 people, most in their 20s. In 2012 he raided a rave party in Juhu which was attended by influential people. To act without fear or favour probably has a lot to do with his tough yes-I-can mindset.

His book “Man Me Hai Vishwas” is a telling commentary on what goes into the making of this popular officer. The title says it all, especially the conviction he brings to his work ethos. The book is a gripping biography of a young man who was unstoppable even in the wake of many odds that could have deterred many others.

As a youngster — born in the rural climes of Kokrud in Shirala tehsil of Sangli district in Western Maharashtra – Nangre-Patil had decided the roadmap of his life very early in life. As he narrates in his book, his journey was no smooth. There were brakes and hurdles. At times he felt a kite without its string and drifting aimlessly. His only assets and support were his tenacity and perseverance. At the back of his mind, he knew that bigger the struggle, bigger the success. His reassurance stood him in good stead and showed he was on the right track. Little wonder, his biography has been so well and widely received by all those who believe in the credo that there is no substitute to hard work. It is a veritable treatise to all those “Eklavyas” who want to make it on their own with no mentor.

In his book, Nangre Patil gives simple but sincere tips to all youngsters with a sense of purpose in life. “Set your goals at 15 and follow Shivaji’s ideals. Life is a race and God is your Jockey. There will be trials and tribulations but don’t lose the sight of your goals. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. There is a time for everything and while pursuing your aims, do not be found wanting in your efforts. Believe in yourself and don’t be bogged down by failures nor allow success to go to your head. When everything fails what never leaves you is your confidence. Help, Support and Love should be your guiding religion.”

Nangre-Patil’s recipe for success has made him a youth icon. The conscientious and guilelessness in which he narrates his life story – and there are any number of clips on the net where he shares them – reveal that one doesn’t need urban polish to make it big. As a Marathi medium student, he was equal to the challenges while preparing for his UPSC examination. The experiences he relates are not merely motivational quotes but a practical guide to all those who nurse similar dreams.

As the Joint Commissioner of Police of a city that mirrors the aspirations of many dreamers, Nangre-Patil is a shining model. Mumbai needs more of his tribe.