The 19th edition of the All India Police Band Competition on Friday saw the Maharashtra Police Pipe Band complete a hat-trick by winning the gold medal. Constable Gajanan B Andhare added another feather to the hat by creating hat-trick individually, winning the best conductor. The 52-year-old chief trainer Navnath Mahipati Ugalmugale was overwhelmed with pride. "I was confident we would succeed in creating a hat-trick. All credit should go to the members of the band who worked hard," he said, modestly leaving out his own hours of putting them through gruelling practice. "When J&K deputy governor AK Sharma handed the much coveted trophy, it felt like I had earned it all." Ugalmugale spent nearly two-and-a-half decades with the Indian Army band. He is an alumnus of the Military Music Wing of Army Education Corps Training College at the Central Indian hill station of Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh. He was a part of this nearly 70-year-old institution that is considered a go-to place for bands and military musicians from not only India's South Asian neighbours but also some African and Far South-East Asian countries. Many of the associated band members hoped recognition would find its way before Ugalmugale's retirement. "Hope the administration gives him a promotion before retirement as his contribution has been immense," said a member. The Beed native Ugalmugale's was also approached by ex-Maharashtra director general of Police Sanjeev Dayal to join the SRPF in 2012, the same day he voluntarily retired from the army. "After the existing pipe band was tottering on its last legs, until it was completely shut down in 2007, Dayal was keen to start all over again. I not only trained the band in 40 days in 2012 but also led to winning All India Police Band Competition thrice in a row," said Ugalmugale. SUCCESS STORY

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