Even in the midst of their gruelling task of maintaining lockdown in a city that is brimming with hotspots, Mumbai Police is taking out time to personally thank those who have appreciated the force's efforts in regulating the lockdown.
It began with a short, but touching video that Mumbai Police shared on its twitter handle, @MumbaiPolice. The two-minute video urges people to maintain lockdown discipline, by interviewing the cops on duty, and asking them what they would have done if they had to spend 21 days at home.
“Feel that the lockdown is too long? Guess what we would've done had we been home?'' says the tweet.
Feel that the lockdown is just too long?
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) April 8, 2020
Guess what we would’ve done had we been home?#MumbaiFirst#TakingOnCorona pic.twitter.com/Ec80R6Cm1U
In the video clip, one constable says he would have spent time with his children. A newly-married woman constable says she has not been able to spend enough time with her husband, and she would have got the chance to do that. Another says he would have read, slept, watched television and slept some more.
Of course, this is what the rest of the country is doing, and actually getting bored with it. But staying at home is wishful thinking for the khaki-clad. They have been on their feet for the past two weeks, ensuring the rest of the population stays indoors.
As overwhelmed Mumbaikars have doffed their hats at the police force, the department has come up with awesome personalised responses, especially to those from the tinsel town.
“The most ‘Shaandaar’ support Mumbaikars can provide right now is to stay at home. And make plans for what all we would do together Jab We Meet'' was the tweet in reply to actor Shahid Kapur's salute.
To Arjun Kapoor, it said, “Taking no ‘half' measures to ensure safety from corona in Mumbai, a city with millions of ‘Ishaqzaades' in love with it!
To actor Alia Bhatt's words of gratitude was this tweet: “Mumbaikars, we hope you all are ‘Raazi' with this advice of Ms @aliaa08 to not venture out in any ‘Gully' unnecessarily and take care of ‘Dear Zindagi' for all!
And for Abhishek Bachchan's appreciation, this was what it said: “Just taking the ‘ACP Jai Dixit’ route to ensure that the city gets back to normalcy soon -- that too with a ‘Dhoom'! All Mumbaikars need to do is not make ‘dus Bahane' about going out unnecessarily!
To Marathi and Hindi actor Sai Tamhankar, it has responded in Marathi, saying that it is not the Mumbai police that is great, but the Mumbaikar. We are just trying the Mission Possible to make Mumbai Jhakaas again.
Actor Ajay Devgn himself got into the same spirit, and tweeted: “Dear Mumbai Police, you are known as one of the BEST in the world. Your contribution to the COVID-19 pandemic is unparalleled. Singham will wear his Khakee and stand beside you wherever you ask.”
The Mumbai Police replied: “Dear Singham, Just doing what Khakee is supposed to do to ensure that things return to how they were – ‘Once upon a time in Mumbai'!
To former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha's salute, the Mumbai Police said: “Your words inspire us to rise and do our best, Captain! We're honoured to serve the city that we love the most.”
To the younger folks, the appeal was through the Harry Potter imagery. With a video of Albus Dumbledore, the principal of the fictional wizarding school, Mumbai Police has tweeted a message and created its own spell, too.
“‘Colloportus’ your doors, folks! A lot more than five points will be awarded to all those who stay home during lockdown and don't create panic.”
So what if this is the age of social distancing? The personal touch still remains, even if it is on social media for the present.
