N. Ambika - DCP North Mumbai.- As received

N. Ambika - DCP North Mumbai.

N Ambika was just 14 years old when she got married to a Police constable at Dindigul, Tam ilnadu.

So she was a victim of Child Marriage. But she didn’t blame the system for her marriage. At the age of 18 she was the mother of 2 daughters - Aigan and Niharika.

Ambika’s husband works as a Police Constable in TN Government. One fine morning he leaves his home early to attend a Parade program and the guest were followed by the IG and DIG.

Ambika was curious to know about the honouring and respect given for the DG and IG. When her husband arrived home, she asked him about the DG and DIG. When her husband said that they were the senior most officers of the department, Ambika felt how lucky if she too becomes a Police Officer and rises to that level.

But as Ambika was married at a very young age, she couldn’t even complete her SSLC. When she spoke to her husband, he said he would support her dream and advised her to take appear for the SSLC Exam as an external candidate. She did that and cleared her SSLC. Later she completed her PUC and Degree Exams as an external candidate.

She requested her husband to permit her to move to Chennai so that she can go for the IPS coaching. He agreed and made arrangements for PG facility for her. Ambika’s husband was very cooperative and he supported her in every possible way. He makes a PG facility for her and helped her to get into IPS coaching classes.

Even after three attempts, Ambika failed to clear IPS. Her husband told a disheartened Ambika to come back. He told her that government has given him accommodation facility and by the time he retires, even he would have 2 stars on his shoulder.

Ambika requested him to give her one more year. She said, “If I don’t succeed this year, I will come back”. She felt that at least she could work as a teacher in some school and support her husband.

Luckily for her, Ambika cleared her IPS prelims, mains and Interview in her fourth attempt.

After clearing IPS in 2008, she gets into training provided by the Department. Her batch mate, Ravi D Chennanavar DCP Bangalore, said that she used to be very attentive in the training and was known to be a brave woman.

Ambika now works as DCP North 4 division in Mumbai.

If Ambika were to merely blame her parents for child marriage and curse her fate, she wouldn’t have become a DCP today. Instead of blaming the system or people, she made a brave attempt to change her future through hard work and of her husband’s support.

Today Ambika has become a role model for many and there might be many more Ambikas hidden among us!