On July 27, India marks the Foundation Day of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)—an occasion to honour one of the country’s most important and versatile security forces. Established originally as the Crown Representative’s Police in 1939, the force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force after independence, when the CRPF Act was enacted on December 28, 1949. The CRPF’s name changed from “Crown” to “Central” after independence, but the internal system largely remains the same. To strengthen the force, significant reforms are needed to unify its structure and operations.

Over the decades, the CRPF has played a crucial role in maintaining internal security, protecting democratic institutions, and supporting civil administration. From counter-insurgency and anti-Naxal operations to disaster response, election security, and VIP protection duties, the CRPF has become synonymous with courage, discipline, and service to the nation.

The Role of CRPF in Modern India

The CRPF serves in multiple capacities. Though it is called a “reserve police force,” in reality, its duties are far more extensive:

• In combat uniform, the CRPF operates like an army unit in field areas and conflict zones.
• In khaki uniform, it serves as police, supporting both state and central governments.

The CRPF undertakes a wide range of responsibilities:

• Counter-insurgency and anti-Naxal operations (including the elite COBRA battalion)
• VIP security
• Elections and civil assistance
• Disaster relief
• Support in maintaining law and order during major unrests

A Hard Truth: Colonial Roots and Continuing Legacy

But even as we celebrate CRPF’s service, we must not ignore the critical questions that arise from its colonial origin.

The CRPF was originally established by the British government to protect their own interests, not the Indian people. After independence, we did not dismantle the system — we simply took control of it. The structure, rules, and mindset, largely remained the same.

Even today, many aspects of the CRPF, from uniforms and command style to hierarchy and culture — still reflect the colonial era, rather than a truly independent Indian force built on equality and brotherhood.

The force has grown into one of India’s largest paramilitary organizations, offering employment to thousands and supporting their families with welfare schemes and facilities.

The Bigger Issue: Mentality, Corruption, and Division

One of the most painful issues within the force is the lack of unity and deep-rooted inequality between officers and jawans. While there are definitely good officers and honest soldiers doing their duties with full dedication, many have raised concerns about the mindset of superiority among a few officers — acting like rulers, not leaders.

This is where the colonial mentality still exists:

• Many soldiers come from villages with no other employment opportunity and serve with heart.
• Some youth join CRPF to serve the nation but are often discouraged by the corruption inside.
• Facilities and power are sometimes misused by senior officials.
• Government funds are not always used fairly or transparently.
• In some cases, people take medals they didn’t earn, depriving real heroes of recognition.

Even transfers and postings — which should be fair and transparent — are often decided by recommendations and influence, not merit.

The Silent Struggles Behind the Uniform

Many soldiers, especially in forces like the CRPF, face deep mental and emotional challenges due to personal, family, and duty-related stress. Incidents of soldiers harming officers or subordinates reveal a serious lack of leadership and psychological support. Prolonged denial of leave and emotional isolation increase their stress and depression. To cope, many turn to harmful habits such as alcohol, smoking, and chewing tobacco or gutka, which severely damage their health. Alcohol is often freely available in military canteens at discounted prices, unintentionally encouraging dependency as part of a broader control mechanism. Corporations also profit heavily from the sale of tobacco products, worsening addiction problems. Adding to these struggles is the poor quality of food served, which often fails to meet the nutritional needs of soldiers, further affecting their physical and mental well-being. These addictions and health issues impair soldiers’ judgment, emotional balance, and discipline. Because of this, many fall into a “slave mindset,” blindly following orders without question, feeling trapped and powerless. Ironically, the very coping mechanisms they adopt to handle stress end up reinforcing this mindset. It is crucial to address these issues with empathetic leadership that prioritizes mental health, nutrition, open communication, and genuine care for the well-being of soldiers.

A Dark Silence: Why No Answers on Pulwama?

A question that still bothers many is: Why was there no proper, transparent investigation into the Pulwama attack? An incident of such magnitude, where so many CRPF jawans were martyred, deserves accountability. The value of a soldier’s life must be taken seriously — not just symbolically, but in policy, support, and protection. We must ask:

• Are jawans being given the salaries they deserve?
• Are they and their families treated with dignity and fairness?
• Why is corruption ignored or rewarded while honest officers and soldiers suffer silently?

These questions are not only for the security forces but also for the political leadership that governs them. Too often, soldiers become symbols during elections, speeches, and national celebrations, yet the systemic issues they face remain unresolved. Political leaders across parties speak of sacrifice, but how many work to reform the institutions responsible for the welfare, safety, and dignity of those who serve? Leadership is not about enjoying power, privileges, security, and facilities while expecting others to make the ultimate sacrifice. With power must come accountability and responsibility. When those who govern the country fail to uphold transparency, tolerate corruption, or avoid accountability for failures, it becomes difficult to expect integrity throughout the rest of the system. Real respect for soldiers is shown not through slogans, but through meaningful reforms, responsibility, and action.

Time to Change the Slave Mentality

We often say “The British left India”—but did their system and mindset really leave?

Unfortunately, we’re still running many institutions like they did—where the top commands, and those below are expected to simply obey. The system lacks mutual respect, transparency, and the Indian values we claim to uphold.

This mentality is not limited to bureaucracy alone; it is also reflected in politics. Too often, many political leaders focus on retaining power, enjoying privileges, and protecting their positions instead of reforming the system they inherited. Rather than creating institutions built on accountability and service to the nation, governments frequently continue the same structures that concentrate power at the top while ordinary citizens, public servants, and soldiers bear the consequences. A leader’s duty is not merely to govern but to transform institutions so that they serve the people honestly and fairly.

The same culture of unquestioning obedience can also be seen within many institutions, where some officers blindly follow orders from above, and soldiers are expected to do the same without questioning decisions. While discipline is essential for any security force, it should never come at the cost of justice, ethics, or the constitutional duty to protect the people. At times, power has been misused against the very citizens whom these forces are meant to serve and protect, creating unnecessary conflict between the public and those entrusted with their safety. This is not a healthy sign for any democracy. The responsibility for preventing such situations lies primarily with those in leadership. Good leaders must ensure that authority is exercised with accountability, restraint, and respect for citizens, so that security forces are never placed in situations where they are perceived as acting against the people instead of standing with them.

This slave mentality, where people are expected to serve power instead of the nation, needs to go—from top to bottom. A nation cannot become truly strong if those at the top are unwilling to be accountable for their decisions. Honest leadership, institutional reforms, and equal accountability for everyone—from the highest political office to the lowest public official—are essential if India is to build a system worthy of the sacrifices made by its soldiers and citizens.

A Call for Unity and Brotherhood

CRPF Foundation Day is not just a time to remember history, it is a time to re-evaluate where we are going.

Let’s not forget:

• Every jawan and officer is a brother or sister of this nation.
• Everyone who wears the uniform is part of one force — not divided by rank, language, or region.
• There needs to be mutual respect, not fear.
• The country can only progress when there is unity within the forces who protect it.
• The true purpose of every uniform is to serve the nation by serving its people. The strength of a security force lies in protecting innocent citizens, upholding the Constitution, and ensuring justice. Blind obedience should never result in unnecessary harm to the very people they have sworn to protect. Leadership should always ensure that orders reflect the nation’s interests, constitutional values, and the welfare of its citizens.

India deserves a force that stands not just in strength of numbers and weapons, but in ethics, unity, humanity, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the people of this country. Let us honour not only the uniform, but also the people behind it—their courage, compassion, integrity, and commitment. A soldier’s greatest duty is not merely to follow orders but to serve the nation and its citizens with honour. It is love and bonding that truly unite us as a nation, and when a force is built on these values, guided by responsible leadership and dedicated to the welfare of the people, it becomes even stronger.

Let’s treat each other with respect. Let’s speak the truth. Let’s embody the true values of being Indian.

CRPF Sada Ajay, Bharat Mata ki Jay!