Bright morning light falls on the sprawling grounds of Police Colony in Dadar’s Naigaon area, where 47 women constables train every day — with bagpipes, drums, drills, and disciplined footwork. Their formidable presence is a rehearsal for what’s to come: Maharashtra’s first all-women pipe band under the Mumbai Police.
The initiative, officials say, is the brainchild of Commissioner of Police Deven Bharti. He officially launched the selection process in May this year. Forty-seven women were selected after a demanding series of fitness tests that measured lung capacity, arm strength, and stamina. The women, aged between 20 and 30, now train twice daily under the guidance of a band expert from the existing male ensemble.
Their regimen is intense: early hours are devoted to physical workouts and breathing exercises to build capacity for wind instruments; then twice a day, they spend time mastering drums and bagpipes, their technique, marching formations, and musical discipline.
A senior official involved in the project said, “At Mumbai Police, we are committed to promoting inclusion and gender equality, serving as a model for others to follow. Given that we already have all-male bands, establishing an all-woman band was a natural progression. Our women band members have been training diligently every day, which is no easy task. Playing these instruments for extended periods requires significant mental and physical strength. Ensuring they receive proper training, along with adequate rest, is a priority, and that is being carefully managed.”
While no official launch date has been decided yet, Mumbai Police’s admin department says the groundwork is well underway. For now, the emphasis is on physical conditioning and instrument training. Once fully trained — over an estimated eight months — the band will perform at state and national ceremonial events and compete at band contests, just as their male counterparts do.
Mumbai Police’s initiative to form the state’s first all-woman pipe band adds to this emerging national cohort, marking a significant step toward inclusivity and empowerment in Maharashtra’s policing.
The project also reawakens a storied musical tradition within the force. The Bombay Police Band was founded in 1936, a year after King George V’s Silver Jubilee, to add musical accompaniment to public ceremonies. Over the decades, it grew into one of the city’s signature ceremonial institutions. Now, the women’s band seeks to add a new chapter to that legacy.
A rare but growing phenomenon
To date, states and forces such as the Delhi Police (60 members), Uttarakhand Police (21 members), Ladakh Police, Andaman & Nicobar Police, and paramilitary forces like the Assam Rifles have established such bands. These ensembles play an important role beyond ceremonial functions: they promote gender equality within law enforcement, provide a platform for women to showcase discipline, skill, and teamwork, and help challenge traditional norms in uniformed services.
