A man of principles and wide interests

Known as an upright and no-nonsense officer, PV Sunil Kumar, IPS, believes in being true to himself. “I am what you see. I can’t pretend or be diplomatic. I believe you have just one life and you should not live it playing to the gallery,” he asserts.

The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), CID, AP is a generous and kind man who is known to stand with his people through thick and thin. He had even donated a month’s salary to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s initiative for giving free vaccinations last year.

Brilliant student with an analytic mind

Sunil Kumar, a brilliant student with an analytic mind, used to spend all his time playing cricket or kabaddi or reading books as a child. Mark Twain was a particular favourite. “I used to live the imaginary life of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in the USA,” he says. “While my extended family considered spending money on books a waste, my parents never said ‘No’ to spending on my passion,” adds the officer. His aim now is to inculcate the reading habit in the younger generation.

As a Dalit child, despite being born in a wealthy, educated officer’s family, he had his share of bitter experiences. “I have learned that affluence doesn't matter in the face of caste,” says Sunil Kumar, who is part of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, 1993 batch.

He says he was also inspired by the story of the Pandavas, who, despite being princes, worked as servants and triumphed against all odds. “Be happy with whatever you have. Nothing is permanent in life. Good times and bad times are both part of your life. No one can have only happiness. That’s the philosophy that keeps me going,” says the officer, who has won several medals, including the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, the Ati Utrkrisht Seva Padak and the Utkrisht Seva Padak instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs for long, unblemished service, professional excellence, devotion to duty and outstanding service. 

“Whatever hardship I have faced is nothing compared to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s life. I get respite from stress by reading his work and about his life. And when I talk to my sons, their voices make me forget all the problems,” he reveals.

STICKLER FOR FITNESS

A stickler for rules, Sunil Kumar is also a stickler for fitness. He is known for his athletic abilities as much as for his policing capabilities. “I go to bed early and wake up early, between 5 and 6 a.m. I play tennis or cycle or do treadmill and gym before 8 a.m. I follow this for at least four days a week. Two days I play 18 holes of golf which takes four to five hours, with 10 Km walking and about 13,000 steps with some trekking. These sessions keep me happy and fit while my body and mind relax,” says the officer, who believes in the adage ‘No pain, no gain.’
“Reading continues to be my primary passion. Golf, cycling and tennis have replaced cricket. I started writing fiction long back,” he shares. He has 50 published stories to his credit.

But how does his tight work schedule and family commitments leave time to pursue his passion? He says, “Reading can happen on Kindle on my iPad while I travel. Writing happens when something is boiling inside. Holidays are for golfing. Cycling and tennis can be done early mornings before I get ready for work.”

MOVIES IN HIS DNA

Born in the West Godavari district, the officer says, movies are in his DNA. “I enjoy watching movies of all genres and languages. English, Hindi, Korean, Tamil, Telugu, Malayali, French and Iranian movies are on my list. From Alfred Hitchcock to Avengers, Jai Bheem to James Bond, Pink to Pushpa, Pirates of the Caribbean to Pa Ranjit films, all entertain me or enrich me or do both.”

He also finds pleasure in music. The hard rock of AC/DC, pop of MJ, Selena Gomez, Charlie Puth, BTS, Khalid, Kanye West and Alan Walker top his list. “Depending on my mood, Manna Dey, Rafi Saab, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar also entertain me,” he shares.

Sunil Kumar says, “I want to travel around the world as I was bitten by Dromomania. I want to visit all continents and as many countries as possible. No number of books can replace the travel experience. You see different cultures, food, and people, and it broadens your mind.” He also dreams of taking Ambedkar’s ideas to the public.

The officer, who started his career as a probationer in Warangal, has had tough postings like Pulivendula of Kadapa district, Adilabad, Medak, and Warangal. As Superintendent of Police, Medak, he steered the district police office to be the first to receive ISO 9001 Certification for process streamlining and people-centric working style.  

If he hadn’t been a bureaucrat, what would he have been?

“I would have been a professor at JNU, as I have passed the UGC lectureship exam. I would also have fought for the civil rights of the oppressed and depressed,” Sunil Kumar says.