Lucknow: Metaphor LitFest’s Day 2 Baithak session at LePress, Hazratganj, featured an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on Master of the Ring by Dr. A.P. Maheshwari, former Director General of Police, CRPF. The session saw Dr. Maheshwari in conversation with senior journalist Atul Chandra, offering the audience a rare glimpse into the real-life legal, administrative and constitutional challenges that inspired the book.
Opening the discussion, Dr. Maheshwari recited a poignant couplet — “Maathe pe uske chot ka gehra nishaan hai, / Woh aadmi chup hai magar saavdhan hai.” The verse set the tone for the session, reflecting the underlying themes of conflict, caution and resilience that run through the narrative.
Dr. Maheshwari spoke about a major administrative crisis that forms the backbone of the book, involving statewide suspensions, school closures and escalating tensions between students, lawyers and the police. What began as localized unrest soon transformed into a serious constitutional issue, drawing the attention of the High Court amid parallel political instability. The situation ultimately led to the unprecedented invocation of the court’s residual powers. Atul Chandra noted that certain sensitive aspects of the episode remain deliberately undisclosed in the book due to potential contempt of court concerns.
The discussion delved into complex legal questions raised during the crisis, including the scope of residual judicial powers, the determination of contempt, and the challenge of defining due process in the absence of precedent. Dr. Maheshwari underscored a fundamental constitutional principle that guided his approach: “A hundred guilty may go free, but not one innocent should suffer.”
Reflecting on a deeply personal chapter, Dr. Maheshwari spoke candidly about his own suspension during this turbulent period. Describing it as an unexpected turning point in his life, he shared how advice from a senior officer encouraged him to use the time constructively. During this phase, he completed a PhD, learned golf, acquired computer skills and eventually turned to writing — a journey that culminated in Master of the Ring. “Adversity leads to positivity,” he said, noting that the setback became a transformative phase before his eventual reinstatement and recognition.
Dr. Maheshwari explained that the book employs an allegorical animal narrative, with unnamed characters symbolising real institutions, systems and behavioural patterns. This approach allows readers to draw their own interpretations while engaging with deeper questions about law under pressure, institutional responses during crises and the survival of individual integrity within the machinery of the State.
The session provided the audience with a rare insider’s perspective on governance, legal procedure and personal resilience, making it one of the most compelling discussions of Metaphor LitFest 2025.
