Hailing from Guntur, Dr Ram Gopal Naik aspired to become a doctor like thousands of youngsters in Andhra Pradesh.
He went on to study MBBS at the Andhra Medical College. However, it was during his third year of college that he decided to prepare for the central civil services exam.
What motivated this decision was a personal tragedy. In the early 1990s, his brother-in-law was murdered following a business rivalry. He saw something that would leave an indelible impression.
“There were many influential people with notorious criminal backgrounds involved in this murder case. Fortunately, we had a very good police officer who fairly investigated the case. He was able to help our family and nab the culprits,” he says.
“I saw the impact police officers can have on our society. Instead of becoming a doctor, I felt I could be more useful to society as a police officer,” he adds.
After completing his MBBS in 1996, he served as a doctor until 1999 when he decided that he needed a complete shift away from his career in medicine.
“My decision to quit medicine and prepare [full-time] for the UPSC exam was met by vehement opposition in the family. They wanted me to continue as a doctor and earn well,” he adds.
Nevertheless, Dr Naik appeared for the exam and cleared it in his second attempt.
In 2002, he joined the IPS as part of the DANIPS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Police Service) cadre.
During his first official posting, he initiated the modernisation process of the Lakshadweep Police. In 2018, he solved the paper leak case of the CBSE Class 12 economics and Class 10 mathematics examinations.
In 2021, he won the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry in January 2021 for conducting a daring rescue operation of a 5-year-old boy who was kidnapped in Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Plans are afoot in the Hindi film industry to make a movie based on the life and career of Dr Naik who is currently the deputy commissioner of police, Metro Police, in Delhi.
“The news came as a major surprise. Based on real-life incidents, a movie about my life will motivate my staff further. After all, it’s a real form of recognition for our work. As an officer, I can be a role model for them,” he says.