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Bedi of Courage

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Top cop, prolific writer and social activist, she is an icon of heroism to millions.

Her efforts to prevent crime, reform prisons, end drug abuse, and support women’s causes earned her the Roman Magsaysay Award— Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

 
Education

Kiran Bedi was born on June 9, 1949 in Amritsar. She was born in a determined Punjabi family who wanted their daughters to be educated as women were restricted to do just household works during that period. 

She did her schooling from the Sacred Heart Convent School in Amritsar.

Bedi completed her graduation from the Government College for Women in Amritsar. Then, she went on to get her master’s degree in Political Science from Punjab University, Chandigarh.

In the year 1988, she obtained a degree in Law (LLB) from Delhi University. 

She excelled in sports particularly tennis and she won many awards including inter-University women’s team title, national title, the Asian title. 

The Top Cop

Bedi began her career as a Lecturer in Political Science in 1970 at Khalsa College for Women in Amritsar.

Two years later, she joined the Indian Police Services, becoming the first woman to do so.

Her assignments included New Delhi traffic postings, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Mizoram, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Chandigarh, Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau, and Civilian Police Advisor for United Nations peacekeeping operations.

She is popularly referred to as Crane Bedi for towing the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s car for a parking violation.

In 1985, she ordered 1600 pending promotions to be made in a single day and issued standing instructions if any file was not cleared within three days, the person concerned would be called personally to explain the delay.

Bedi influenced several decisions of the Indian Police Service, particularly in the areas of narcotics control, traffic management and VIP security.

During her stint as the Inspector General of Prisons, in Tihar Jail (Delhi) (1993–1995), she instituted a number of reforms in the management of the prison, and initiated a number of measures such as detoxification programs, Art of Living Foundation prison courses, yoga and vipassana meditation.

Her initiatives for the practice of Vipassana meditation were documented in the film Doing time, Doing Vipassana.

The Activist

Bedi along with 15 other police officers set up Navjyoti India Foundation (NIF) in 1987.

In 1994, Bedi setup India Vision Foundation which works in field of police reforms, prison reforms, and women empowerment and rural and community development.

Bedi was the host and judge of the popular TV series Aap Ki Kachehri (“Your Court”), which is based on real-life disputes and provides a platform for settling disputes between consenting parties.

She played a crucial role in steering anti-corruption movement launched by Gandhian leader Anna Hazare. Bedi parted ways with the movement after one of its members (Kejriwal) decided to float a political party.

The Writer

Bedi has penned down many books including ‘It’s always possible: transforming one of the largest prisons in the world’ (1999), ‘The Motivating Bedi’ and ‘As I see’ (2005).

The Controversies

In 1993, Bedi was pulled up by the Supreme Court of India for ignoring the apex court directives for providing medical attention to a foreign under-trial prisoner by initiating contempt proceedings against her. 

Bedi was alleged to have charged her hosts full fare for air tickets despite her paying discounted fare. She was also alleged to have charged her hosts’ business class fare while flying economy class and presenting false invoices

In 2011, Delhi Police registered an FIR against Bedi for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for her NGOs.

The Honors

President’s Gallantry Award in 1979

Magsaysay Award in 1994

Serge Sotiroff Award (UNDCP) in 1999

MSN Most Admired Indian Female Icon 2011

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