CHANDIGARH, Jan 29: He has had enough of hide-and-seek, both with law-breakers, whether terrorists or other criminals, and of late, with the Chandigarh Administration. Twelve years of it and now Dinkar Gupta, till last week, the SSP of Ludhiana, is back to his favourite realm, academics and information technology, thanks to a scholarship from the London School of Economics (LSE).Interestingly, Dinkar is the only police officer among the 12 Indians, comprising three IAS officers, selected for the 10-week stint. He will join the LSE on March 29 on the British Chevening Gurukul Scholarship in Leadership and Excellence. These scholarships are jointly given by the British Council and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office for outstanding contribution in fields such as journalism and banking.``The Gurukul scholarship was started last year to commemorate 50 years of our independence,'' Dinkar told Newsline. From about 700 applicants, 34 were interviewed by the LSE Academic Director Lord Meghnath Desai and Project Manager Emma Haris earlier this month. Out of the 10 weeks at LSE, two are kept for attachment and Dinkar will be attached with the Scotland Yard and the British Home Office.``The Home Office has a Policy Research Group and since the LSE has a great reputation, the Home Office takes note of the suggestions of even the interns. Moreover, there is a lot of flexibility in the course as I can attend lectures on topics as varied as sociology and theatre. It also gives me the opportunity to hold informal meetings with the stalwarts in various fields,'' says he.This 1987 batch Punjab-cadre police officer has been scheduled to join the UT Administration as SSP and his orders have gone through various stages, at times posting him as SSP, then short-changing him to another post, and now the cancellation. But respite for him has come in the form of this scholarship.``I have always been interested in academics and this will help me keep pace with the latest developments in the field of information technology. Moreover, it expands your horizon and prepares you to take up fresh challenges,'' he says.May be the Punjab government will have his challenges clearly drawn up when he comes back from the LSE, the alma mater of giants like Harold Laski and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
