Officer shines on sports field
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Inspector general of police M. Ravi’s current job as chief vigilance officer, Aavin, could be a low profile one. However, this does not stop him from being a high-profile IPS officer. Ravi, now 50 years old, has not only won a silver medal at the All-India Shuttle Tournament for IPS Officials conducted recently, but has also done skydiving from a height of 16,500 feet.
“I have participated in all the badminton tournaments, except one, for IPS officials since they were first held in 2007. I have won a medal whenever I participated. This year I was the runner-up in the veterans’ section,” says Ravi, who decided to try skydiving when he went to New Zealand a couple of months ago.
“I was doing it for the first time. The medical team said I was fit to do the skydiving. So, I decided to experience it. The thrill was exceptional. The first 80 seconds was freefall. That was really worth experiencing. Only after that, the parachute was opened,” he recalls with a smile.
Sports and games are not new to Ravi, who gives lot importance to fitness. A native of Palani, Ravi belongs to the 1991 batch of IPS officials.
“We used to play ball badminton in those days in school and college. I was took part in short put, volleyball and short ball, besides doing weight lifting. I stopped lifting weights now, but play shuttle at least three days in a week,” he says.
Among IPS officials, Ravi is known as Iron Man because he competes in all categories and can play badminton for two-and-a-half hours at a stretch. Not many IPS officials, even if those younger than Ravi, can think of doing this.
The official also has the credit of coining the word aravani for transgenders, who were earlier known as alis in Tamil Nadu.
“It was during the Coovagam festival in 1999. I was Villupuram SP at that time and the organisers invited me as a judge for the beauty contest. At that time, I suggested the word aravani, which was accepted by transgenders and other sections of society,” recalls Ravi.
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