A Policeman’s Pledge – Dr. Mahesh Bhagwat’s Call for Justice, Healing, and Humanity in Cancer Care.

Some speeches are remembered. Others are felt long after the last word is spoken.

At the convocation ceremony of the world’s first Post Graduate Diploma in Psycho-Oncology, hosted by the Texas School of Mental Health, the presence of Dr. Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, IPS, as Guest of Honour brought not just wisdom, but a wave of deeply personal reflections that left the audience stirred and inspired.

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Dr. Mahesh Bhagwat: Policeman, Mentor, Humanitarian

Dr. Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat, IPS, currently Additional DG (Law & Order), Telangana, is a 1995-batch officer renowned for his work in anti-trafficking, bonded labor rescue, and community policing.

A recipient of the President’s Police Medals and the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Hero Award, he has rescued over 9,000 victims, mentored 2,300+ civil service aspirants, and continues to shape policy at national and global levels.

At the convocation, it was his humility and heartfelt message that truly moved the room.

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From Law to Love: A Journey of Service

Dr. Bhagwat has worn many hats – award-winning officer, anti-trafficking crusader, civil services mentor, and global voice for human dignity. Yet at the convocation, he addressed the graduates not as a senior official, but as a brother, a friend, and a believer in hope.

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The Unspoken Trauma of Cancer

Speaking candidly, Dr. Bhagwat emphasized how cancer remains a whispered word in many Indian homes. Families hesitate to speak about it, often delaying screening and diagnosis due to stigma or fear. He highlighted the alarming rise in breast cancer among women and the general lack of routine screenings like mammography. He urged the graduates to see their roles as broader than counselling – to become companions, caregivers, and protectors of dignity.
“You are the ones who will tell a patient, ‘Yes, you will lose hair. Yes, there will be pain. But you will get through this.’ Your strength becomes their strength.”

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Stories That Stay With You

What followed was a series of powerful personal stories that moved the audience deeply:

• He recalled his younger sister’s battle with breast cancer, and how their family – unaware of psycho-oncology at the time – gave her all the emotional support she needed during chemotherapy and radiation.
• He spoke of Ramya, a bright young girl who became Police Commissioner for a Day under the Make-A-Wish Foundation before losing her battle with cancer, and Ishan, a six-year-old boy who also wore the commissioner’s cap and is now excelling academically.
• Most memorably, he shared the story of Devanand Telgote, an IIT Bombay alumnus who battled post-COVID lung damage with 4 months on ECMO, survived, and went on to secure AIR 112 in the Indian Forest Service exam – thanks to community support and emotional resilience.

“Helping hands,” Dr. Bhagwat reminded everyone, “are holier than praying lips.”

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Praise for the Psycho-Oncology Program

Calling the course “a much-needed gift to the country,” Dr. Bhagwat urged that psycho-oncologists must become integral to every cancer treatment facility.

“This field deals with fear, uncertainty, depression. And the people in this room – you are the ones who will heal without scalpels, speak without judgment, and stand beside patients when hope is fading.”

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A Call to Keep Helping

As the speech drew to a close, he invoked the words of Baba Amte:
“God has sent you with a package. Your job is to deliver it, and live.”

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📝 Stay tuned for Blog 3 – A tribute to Dr. G.B. Deglurkar’s vision, wisdom, and his powerful message on awakening a new era of cancer care.