It is said that music is the universal language of mankind. That is why when music sessions were held at the Lashkar police station in Pune, it drew police personnel of all cadres and also civilians with a penchant for singing.

When ACP R N Raje attended a lecture by music therapist, Santosh Borade, at a training programme, he was impressed by the fact that music can have a positive and therapeutic effect on the mind and body. He, therefore, invited Borade to speak at other police stations including Lashkar so that music sessions could be introduced for police personnel to unwind and beat the stress.

The sessions have become an instant hit at the Lashkar police station where employees have felt transformed after participating in the singing sessions. They are now able to be more joyful at work and that has helped improve their interpersonal relationships.

The music therapy initiative has been adopted by around 300 police stations all over Maharashtra.  At the Lashkar police station, the equipment was donated by a Gurdwara while a makeshift stage was set up. According to Senior Inspector Ashok Kadam, earlier only four to five employees participated, but later many more personnel and even civilians began visiting to take place in the audience or just for the joy of singing. 

The sessions are held every evening from 7 pm to 9 pm. They have become so popular that now there is a YouTube channel called ’Happily Sing With Pune Police’ where recorded videos of the performances are uploaded. The YouTube channel has over 500 subscribers and 150 videos.