Kiran Bedi- The inspiring story of first Indian woman police officer with highest ranks
A superhero is a person who helps the world with his extraordinary powers and making the place a much better site for all people. A hero is a person who has been admired for their distinguished courage and acts. But here we have acquired a heroine. A common individual who finds strength to preserve and bear in spite of extreme obstacles. India’s first women IPS officer Kiran Bedi. A person who dares the difference. Kiran Bedi is truly a symbol of heroism. India’s first and highest woman ranking IPS officer. She worked extensively to prevent drug trafficking as the General Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau.
“I have always had the courage internally with me to say if this is wrong, I can’t do it. Because for me my goal was always who am I here for? I am here to uphold the law, I am here to serve the people and if I am serving the people, I am doing my job rightly. I don’t have to be afraid of anybody”.
She was a lady with a vision, with cause. On 9 June, 1949 a baby daughter made her entry into the lives of Prem Peshawaria and Prakash Peshawaria in Amritsar, Punjab. She was the second of four daughters. Her parents made a number of sacrifices so that all their daughters could further their education and be successful in a male-dominated society. She was a brilliant student at Sacred Heart Convent School. Civics, Social science and history were her favorite subjects. She started tennis at the age of 9. She became International Women’s Lawn Tennis champion of Asia in 1972.
“What I learned on the tennis court is exactly what I practice in the police field, it’s a transparent open work where I am serving the people, there I am playing for the people here I am serving the people and instead there I had a tennis racket in my hand. Now I have the police baton or my uniform”.
Kiran Bedi did a BA degree from Government College of Women, Amritsar in 1968. After that she pursued a Master’s degree in Political Science from Punjab University Chandigarh and graduated as the topper of her batch in 1970. She also obtained BA of Laws from Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. Later in 1993, she completed her Ph.D. IN Social Science from the department of Social Science, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Kiran became one of the youngest platoon commanders in the NCC. In 1968 she won the NCC Cadet Office Award. She met her better half Brij Bedi on the tennis courts of Amritsar. Her husband was nine years older than her. He used to play university-level tennis at the time. They both got married at a simple ceremony at the local Shivalaya temple On 9 March 1972. Both of them had to live separately for most of their married life. The couple was blessed with a daughter named Sukriti originally in 1975, she later changed her name to Saina.
She started her career as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bedi’s first posting was to the Chanakyapuri subdivision of Delhi in 1975. She became the first woman to lead the all-male contingent of the Delhi Police at the Republic Day Parade in 1975. During a riot in November 1979, she stood her ground in the face of violent demonstrators and was subsequently awarded a medal for gallantry and personal bravery by the President of India. During her term as the Inspector General of Tihar jail, she brought about several reforms in the way that the prisons are managed. She brought forth the number of measures like yoga, meditation, agriculture, painting, sports, redressal of complaints made by the prisoners and many more. With the aim of improving the living conditions of the drug addicts and the underprivileged people. She laid the foundation for the establishment of two voluntary organizations namely Navjyoti in 1986 for working in the field of drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation and India Foundation in 1994 which works in field of police reforms, prison reforms, community development. She also hosted the show ‘Aapki Kachehri’ (“your court”) a reality justice TV show and raised her voice strongly on every social issue in India.
She is that one woman who fearlessly fought corruption, illiteracy, crime, drugs and injustice. Kiran Bedi was among the prominent members of India Against Corruption, a collective organization of people’s movement led by Anna Hazare. She has also showcased her talents in writing. She wrote several books on social issues, law and police structures.
At present she is a retired police officer. She started her career in 1970 as a lecturer in Khalsa College for women, Amritsar. She only worked for 2 year and in 1972 she put forward her foot to become the IPS officer she remained in service for 35 years and held the position as Director General at the Bureau of Police Research and Development before she voluntarily retired from the IPS in December 2007. Even though she faced many challenges she was always ready to overcome every circumstance and never hesitated or dropped down her tasks. She was ready to travel anywhere and was capable of taking up all the tasks whichever were offered by the government. Whatever the task may be she rook remarkable moves and always stepped her legs in a successful manner.
During her IPS duty. She has contributed many strongest assignments ranging from New Delhi traffic postings, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Mizoram and Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Chandigarh. She took responsibility as Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau, to a United Nation delegations where she became the civilian Police Advisor in United Nations Peacekeeping operations.
She is one person who truly believes in dignity, courage, fearlessness, commitment. She has been voted as India’s most admired and most trusted woman.
She is a lady of action. She is recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award also called the Asian Nobel Peace prize. Lifetime achievement award by Bank of Baroda in 2008. In 2009 she achieved the Women Excellence Award by Aaj Tak. In 2011 she became the Admired Indian Female Icon. In 2013 she became one of the top 10 Women Icons by the Economic Times and many more awards.
“Works gives me ‘JOY’ and every beginning is a path of self-discovery.”
In the General election of 2014, Kiran Bedi expressed her desire to serve the country led by Narendra Modi by offering herself as Chief Ministerial candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Bedi lost to AAP’s S.K. Bagga fell 2,277 votes short of him. She was appointed lieutenant governor of Puducherry union territory in 2016. She played an important role in the life of every Indian woman and is perceived as a role model. Which has been a support for many women and many women IPS aspirants of the country. She has become truly an inspiration not only to the Indian women but to any person in the world for her determination, honesty, and desire to serve her country.
