Shyamalan, 46, who belongs to Chalikkavattam in Ernakulam in Kerala, says his mother gave him his first pen when he was 8. “She would keep insisting that I write all the words in a rounded manner. The Malayalam letters are naturally rounded and she would keep telling me to curve my letters,” says Shyamalan.

Shyamalan, who is from the 1984 constable batch, is at present posted in the PCR unit at Delhi Police Headquarters where his writing skills are sought after by officers ranging from the Commissioner of Police to constables.

Shyamalan calls his talent “God’s gift”. He says it was when he was studying at a typing institute that he noticed that typed letters looked more consistent and neat. “That was when I started writing in type font. I mastered it. The notice board at the institute still has notices posted in my writing,” he says.

When he came to Delhi, he was introduced to the world of computers and Microsoft Word. He says he was fascinated by the different fonts and started studying them laboriously. Now, he says, he has mastered the art of writing at least 12 different fonts. From Old English style to Monotype Cursive style, he can write them all at a speed of about 11 words per minute.

His imprint is found on invitations and greeting cards sent out by the Commissioner of Police and other officers. His talent was first noticed four years ago by an ACP level officer and later by the Police Chief—for the past four years he has been writing out the Chief’s invitations. Not only that, Shyamalan says that he has written for P.R. Meena, Joint CP, Northern Railways and R.P. Upadhyay, Additional CP, Vigilance. He also fills out all certificates given away ay Delhi Police functions. Sometimes he is even summoned to fill out the names and particulars of personnel on their identity cards. His writing work is not over even off-duty. At home, members of the housing society in Model Town where he lives, make use of his writing skills as well.