Bengaluru: The police cap has a history of over a century in this state, from the days of the Mysore Maharajas when the cops sported khaki shirts, a khaki half pant, a colourful turban and brown shoes. This traditional attire of cops remained unchanged after the end of princely rule in India. Though khaki remained the colour, the short pant grew to a full pant, and the turban like cap gave way to headgear which was lightweight and could be worn through the seasons.
The turban is still worn during passing out parades. When Mr R Gundu Rao was the chief minister, he fell in love with the hat worn by the British ‘bobby’ aka British police on a visit to London. On his return, he ordered a sample of the hat but the constables who tried it, found it too heavy and stopped them from chasing after crooks.
Subsequently, the proposal was shelved said former DG& IG, Mr SNS Murthy. The history of Karnataka (Mysuru) police had been brought out in a book during the centenary celebrations of police force in 1986, with then DG&IG Mr Garud-achar organising an exhibition on the history of Karnataka police at Chitra Kala Parishat and the book featuring a whole chapter on the police cap.
The constables and head constables in the city may embrace a new look with the police chief Neelamani N Raju contemplating changing the 'slouch cowboy' hat to a Pcap. The idea was suggested during the workshop ‘Strengthening the Implementation of POCSO Act-2012’ organised on Saturday on the lines of Mumbai and UP Police, keeping in mind the problems the constables and head constables go through with the so-called heavy 'slowchat' caps during summer.
