Kiran Bedi

Did you know?

Kiran Bedi was the first woman police officer of the Indian Police Service. Spectators at the 1973 Republic Day Parade were amazed to see a lady at the head of the Police Contingent. The then Prime Minister, Mrs. lndira Gandhi was so impressed that she invited Kiran for breakfast with her the very next day.

Career Highlights

* In 1977, she put an end to the Akali-Nirankari Sikh riots at India Gate. * 1979, as DCP (West Delhi), she broke up a 200-year-old illicit liquor trade. * In 1981 as DCP (Traffic) she controlled traffic during the 1982 Asian Games efficiently. She didn’t hesitate to tow away cars and once even challaned the Prime Minister’s car for wrong parking near a car repair shop. * In 1985, as DCP (headquarters) she ordered 1600 pending promotions to be made in a single day. Standing instructions were issued that if any file was not cleared within three days the person concerned would be called personally to explain the delay. * In 1993, as the Inspector General of Asia’s biggest jail – the Tihar jail (9100 inmates including 300 women) she turned the unlivable jail into an abode of education. Said Kiran while joining her posting at the jail, “I want to transform this jail into an Ashram within six months”. She introduced many classes and programs for the inmates including those on basic education, meditation, yoga besides functions like mushairas, kavi sammelans, dramas and games, which involved the jail inmates. For her effort to humanize the Tihar jail she was honored with the 1994 Ramon Magsaysay Award.