Watch: How an IPS officer brought light to the home of Noorjahan in UP

Anukriti Sharma, IPS, helped light up an old woman's home in Uttar Pradesh. (Image: screengrab from video @ipsanukriti14/Twitter)

In Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2004 movie “Swades”, Shah Rukh Khan plays a NASA scientist who, in an iconic scene, gets electricity to a far-off village. An old woman’s face lights up as a bulb flickers in her dilapidated home and she says, “bijlee”, in a poignant and unforgettable scene.

Now almost 20 years later, the scene has come to life in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district when an elderly woman in finally got power in her household.

Anukriti Sharma, an IPS officer and the Additional SP of Bulandshahr, brought light into the life of 70-year-old Noorjahan which she termed as her “Swades” moment. The 2020 batch IPS officer took to social media to share the inspiring story of how the police's efforts brought electricity to Noorjahan's home.

Sharma tweeted, "Getting electricity connection to Noorjahan aunty's house literally felt like bringing light into her life. The smile on her face was immensely satisfying." The accompanying video depicted the elderly woman's radiant smile as power lines were installed in her home.

Swades moment of my life Getting electricity connection to Noorjahan aunty's house literally felt lyk bringing light into her life. The smile on her face ws immensely satisfying.Thank u SHO Jitendra ji & the entire team 4 all da support #uppcares @Uppolice @bulandshahrpol pic.twitter.com/3crLAeh1xv

— Anukriti Sharma, IPS (@ipsanukriti14) June 26, 2023

After the bulb lit up Noorjahan’s small home, the IPS officer laughed and talked to the woman, before getting a stand fan inside her home. Sharma and her colleagues explained to the woman which switch does what. The woman responds with a gesture of gratitude - a gentle pat on the officer's shoulder. The interaction between the senior police officers and Noorjahan illustrated the joy and camaraderie that came from this act.

Sharma explained, "In one of our chaupals, Noorjahan came and told us that her home does not have electricity yet. She is very poor, and a widow who has been living alone since her daughter's wedding. We then resolved to bring light to her home."

The police collaborated with the power supply department to facilitate the connection, and they also provided Noorjahan with a bulb and fan using funds from their own resources.