Kunjan Singh Bundela served an illustrious 41-year career in the police, retiring as the Town Inspector of Gautam Pura in 2013. A recipient of over 300 awards, including the Shaurya Gatha, he continues his lifetime of service by organizing free spiritual recitals and advocating protection of the poor.

Kunjan Singh Bundela is a retired Police Inspector who dedicated 41 years of his life to the police force. Joining the department in 1972, he steadily rose through every rank: Constable (Arakshak), Head Constable (Pradhan Arakshak), Assistant Sub-Inspector (Sahayak Up-Nirikshak), Sub-Inspector (Up-Nirikshak), and finally Inspector (Nirikshak). He concluded his extensive career in 2013, retiring as the Town Inspector (TI) of Gautam Pura.

Kunjan Singh Bundela is widely recognized for leading two major, high-stakes operations:

Eradicating Naxalism in Dewas: While posted as a Sub-Inspector and Thana Prabhari in Uday Nagar (Dewas district), he faced a severe Naxalite insurgency infiltrating from Chhattisgarh. According to him, these Naxalites were supported by certain local Adivasis and Christian missionaries. The situation was completely lawless; Naxalites heavily smuggled timber from the forests and violently assaulted anyone who interfered. It became impossible for government employees—including teachers, hospital nurses, doctors, forest officials, and even the police—to perform their duties without facing physical attacks and obstruction. Assigned to this highly volatile area by Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shami, Kunjan Singh Bundela spent two years conducting intense operations. Following major shootouts that resulted in four to five Naxalite casualties, peace was finally restored. Today, statues honor the martyred public and Nagar Suraksha Samiti members in Jamasindh village who were injured or lost their lives during this conflict.

Arresting SIMI Terrorists in Pithampur: While posted in Pithampur, based on intelligence from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), he led an operation that successfully captured 13 SIMI terrorists, including the notorious Safdar Nagori. These individuals were all state-level heads who were absconding and conducting a secret meeting to plan their activities. For this monumental success, he was awarded a cash prize of ₹50,000 by the Madhya Pradesh Government.

Over his four decades of service, he caught over 250 murderers, dacoits, and robbers, earning between 300 and 350 awards. For his bravery in the anti- Naxal operations, he was honored by the Chief Minister and the Urban Administration Minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, on Republic Day at the Indore Stadium. He also received the prestigious Shaurya Gatha Award for his bravery in the SIMI operation and other acts of valor, presented by Deepak Vohra (advisor to the Prime Minister) at the Anand Mohan Mathur Auditorium.

Born in the Chauthi Paltan Police Line in Indore, his childhood was primarily spent in the DRP Lines. He completed his schooling at Nutan Higher Secondary School and later attended PMB Gujarati College. During his student years, he was highly active in the NCC and had a strong passion for playing football.

His father, who was also in the police force, served as his ultimate role model and ideal, alongside his mother. His parents faced immense financial struggles, as his father was the sole earner feeding the entire family, yet they instilled the values of strict honesty and hard work in him. While Kunjan Singh was in the second year of his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) studies, his father’s health severely deteriorated. Driven by these familial and financial responsibilities, he left his college education halfway and joined the police department in 1972.

Throughout his career, he was deliberately posted in high-crime areas because of his strictness, willingness to take risks, and courage. His initial days as a Constable were spent in court duties, but he eventually served across numerous police stations in Indore, including MG Road, Malharganj, Bhawarkua, Juni Indore, and Gautam Pura. He also served extensively in Pithampur and the Dhar district, with a brief stint in Bhopal for a few days, and a one-year posting in the Railway Police.

A man of unwavering principles, he frequently faced suspensions and departmental inquiries. When higher-ranking officers issued illegal or unconstitutional orders, he outright refused to comply in any circumstance. He preferred to accept the suspensions and punishments upfront rather than compromise his integrity, noting that such administrative actions never negatively affected his morale. While he occasionally received minor reprimands for absences, his ethical foundation remained unshaken.

Beyond his uniform, spirituality and community service deeply anchor his life. Forty-eight years ago, alongside his close friend of 40-45 years, Kailash Vijayvargiya, he formed the Ramayan Mandal Chauthi Paltan Police Line. To this day, the group performs free Sundarkand recitals, bhajans, and devi jagrans at anyone's home. He draws profound inspiration from the song \"Zindagi ki na tute ladi\" from the movie Kranti. Furthermore, he strictly lives by a specific quote, which he often writes on his books and uses as his life's title:

ज़िंदगी ख़्वाब है, इस पर न भरोसा करना,

दिल न दुख जाए ग़रीबों का, हमेशा डरना।

Addressing the younger generation, Retired Police Inspector Kunjan Singh Bundela describes working in the police force as a divine blessing, as it provides the rare opportunity to help people impartially during their darkest, most desperate hours of sorrow and happiness. He advises incoming officers to expect criticism despite doing good work, urging them to remain steadfast in helping the poor and financially distressed. He concludes with a powerful message for all citizens: maintain a spirit of sacrifice and penance, and love your God, your country, and your family equally.