Sameer Wankhede, the man in question, an ardent follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar, speaks his heart out on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti 2023
Who is Sameer Wankhede?
An honest officer wanting to serve his nation till he lives.
What does this service mean to you?
Everything. It is my whole life. But see, service is not my bread and butter. It is not that I am working for my salary, perks or for money. I am in the national service to serve my country, I am serving my motherland. Secondly, it is my passion. Right from the age of 17 years, I am obsessed with the fact that I want to do something for my country. Nothing more than that. If I can bring about even a small change that can make our country a better place, my efforts are justified. As everybody knows, now a lot many politicians and a lot of agencies have made me famous , but my objective all along was to be a soldier and to save my country from every horror that the anti-nationals pose upon her. I did my best. And will continue to do so.
Your lavish lifestyle is questioned always. What do you have to say about it?
Most of the properties I possess are my parental properties coming from my mother. My mother comes from a royal family from Haryana. My father belongs to a very humble family. So that way, financially, I was very blessed. I was well enough always. My lifestyle is a reflection of the inheritance my mother has left for me. It is confusing why anyone would have to question that. That is exactly why Imy work is my passion, not my survival plan. I am lucky I am not in survival mode like many people and that allows and empowers me to focus on bigger endeavours like honesty, self-respect and integrity. I am a lawyer having a legal professional background. I am a humble human who believes in giving my best to the nation. And I am proud of my pedigree and the values that I get from it.
But how do you feel when you have given your 100% to the country and something like this happens to you? Do you feel cheated? Do you feel very bad about it?
No, not at all. I feel more motivated. I feel more charged up. It is a mission for me to serve our motherland. I would like to explain this in simple words. When you clean the gutters, some dirt is surely going to be flung back on you. I am exactly like that sewage worker who is trying to clean up the space to keep people safe from dirt and diseases. I am trying to clean up the social fibre that is disrupted by anti-social elements. So, I was always well aware of the consequences I had to face. And I have no regrets about the dirt stuck on me amidst the cleaning process. .
What difficulties can an honest officer face in the country when he is doing his job?
When you fight strong, mighty people like drug cartels or anti-social gangs, it certainly adds a difficult level to our functioning. These people involved in crimes, they have a lot of money power and muscle power. The drug cartel and their supporters are influential people. So what they do is, they try to harm you physically first. And if that is not easily possible, then they attack your family. If that also fails, if the family is very strong enough and bears the atrocities with courage, then they try to target your career. You will be bombarded with allegations, you are painted like a villain so that people start doubting your work. If that fails too, then they attack your caste. Just observe, when they don’t have any material against you, they will try to put you down on your caste, your creed, and your religion. Their final resort is barging on your integrity. People like me consider integrity as the most important asset of life. Honesty is the only real property I have acquired in this lifetime. They know that a strong officer like me gets hurt when my integrity is challenged, so they try that also. So this is their strategy.
The media said many derogatory things about you. What do you have to say about that?
Sadly media is obsessed with TRP. They run allegations and insults over and over again on television. And people enjoy it. Nobody bothers what the family of the people used for TRP go through. But finally, these things fall flat. And the truth comes out. So that will surely happen. I have seen it in the judiciary of this country. And the system is still alive. Truth prevails and it will. Always.
What is the impact of all this drama on your family?
Initially, there was discomfort. But fortunately, I have been blessed with Durgas and Rani Lakshmi bai’s in my house. I am not worried about them. My mother was a fighter. I have seen and inherited her spirit of values and strength. My wife, and my sister, are also fighters. They motivate me by being strong and not scared of anything that’s coming. They take it as a pinch of salt and this makes them stronger. I have been blessed to have such strong women around me. My family understands what my mission means. They understand my service and my passion. And they respect every aspect of it. We are a family that is totally about integrity and love for the motherland. So any drama wont affect us. We are humans, our lives get disrupted in different practical ways. But mentally we are a strong Indian family.
How do you motivate yourself daily when you see that there are so many people trying to put you down?
See, I have two ideals in my life I follow given y two idols i worship. My number one idol is Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I idolize his life and principles. I have been a student of history. And I have read a lot about him. His childhood struggle and the constant desire to protect Swaraj. It has made an impact on my existence. Our great Shivaji Maharaj has also posed with allegations against him. So our honourable King Shivaji Maharaj had to get Bhagavat from Varanasi to prove his lineage, his right and that he is a real warrior. He did it. When such a great warrior can be alleged, I am nobody. As I mention, truth is the only thing that has a long life. Everything else dies, exactly like the TRP agendas. I am proud to be an Ambedkarite. His life has been a struggle. Right from his childhood, he has fought with destiny and atrocities. He fought the Britishers, the system, and the kind of shackles during that time. He has fought bigger things. I cannot complain about anything when I think of these great people who lived by an example. I will keep on fighting all my life for my right and righteousness. My DNA drives me to never give up and face the devil with courage.
Many younger people are going to join as officers like you. What is the suggestion that you would like to give them when they have to deal with such a situation?
I would want to give them a message. Kindly join civil services only if you want to join to serve your nation and help people. If they have some ulterior motives, they can enjoy their life elsewhere. If they want to perform their duty with honesty and integrity, they should be mentally tough to face the entire system, to face the unscrupulous people to save the system when they try to pin them down. So they should be mentally strong, prepared and dedicated. They should not cry when their family is being targeted, their family women folk are being targeted, their religion is being targeted, and their wife is being targeted. They should not sulk or complain. The service is only for the honest officers who want to serve the people. Train your mind before any other training. And this message is only for honest officers.
The public image is that most of the IPS or the IAS officers, are puppets to politicians. What do you have to say about this?
See, We all are men and women of law. And for us, the constitution, the law of that department is very important. But if you follow these things 100%, lot many people will be against you. Your people will be against you. Your system will be against you. The need is to not be scared of the consequences of being honest. You follow the Constitution, you follow the law, and be brave enough to do that. What is the point of eating bones and living like dogs? Be like Maharana Pratap, fighting against the mighty system and still surviving. We still remember him after 500 years.
When you say your job is your passion what are your next steps and what is your dream to do in your job?
I don’t have any micro dreams I have only macro dreams. My macro dream is to challenge myself and ask myself, in what way I can serve my mother. In what way I can do that? As I said I have given blood for my mother. You know. And I have been attacked upon. I have been fighting a lot of many gangsters. And you know how fighting a lot many scrupulous people could be. It is my job. It is nothing to be proud of. I am doing what I am supposed to do. I am getting a salary out of it. So my macro aim is the betterment of my motherland. In any capacity that I can, I will serve my country. People try to pull me down. Some don’t bother to hold on to reality. I am strong and will fight all those elements that cause damage to my motherland. The only thing in my mind is the glory of my motherland.
At any given point in this whole struggle did you feel like giving up?
Never. I will never give up. I will keep on fighting. Till the last breath, the last drop of my blood, I will keep on fighting. I will not give up on my principles and my beliefs. I will never give up anything. I think this thought is enough for me to hold my head high. Nation first, everything else later.
What do yo feel like saying to those who come in the way of good work and your duty ?
Two words are enough. Jai Hind.
