Inspirational true life stories are tagged as favorite celebrities for
decades. One such well known celebrity around the globe who is
recognized for her courage, welfare strategies and tag line 'I Dare' is
Kiran Bedi. She dreamt and worked for a better world and she achieved
it. Read all about the inspirational icon who has always worn a smile
in the battle of life.
Early Life Kiran Bedi born on 9th June 1949 in
Amritsar, as the second of the four daughters to her parents, Prakash
Lal Peshawaria and Prem Lata Peshawaria. She completed her schooling
and graduation in Arts from her native place itself. She earned a
master's degree the following year in Political science from Punjab
University. The ardent learner with active service in the Indian Police
also acquired a law degree (LLB) from Delhi University. She was also
awarded a Ph.D. in 1993 in Social Sciences by the Department of Social
Sciences, the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.
As a
child born in a well to do family, Kiran was aware of how special her
life was compared to the majority of Indian children. Her parents
sacrificed a great deal, so that their daughters could go to the best
schools, learn sports, and be exceptional in the male dominated country.
As a teenager Kiran Bedi won Asian women's lawn tennis champion.
Recollecting her childhood she sates in one of her interviews, "I came
from a sports background where I was the only girl traveling with a
batch of 20 boys." After few years she was recognized as the first
woman to join the Indian Police service in 1972.
Her Marital Life Kiran Bedi was determined to
choose her own life partner at an early age, as the bitter shades of
marital relationship of her elder sister always bid a nightmare to the
term called marriage. Shashi her elder sister was a girl next door who
dreamt of leading a normal life like any other girl. Sashi got engaged
to a Canada-based Indian heart specialist while she was pursuing her
Master's degree. The marriage was a disaster as the doctor was already
engaged to someone else in Canada. But Shashi could not fight for her
marriage but had to succumb to the doctors interest (like bribe) and
stay with him for life in an unknown land. This bitter experience
increased Kiran's determination to make her own way in her own country.
Kiran Bedi's
first serious relationship did not work for long. The basic reasons was
that she was strongly career oriented, while he wanted her career to be
secondary to his. The second issue was that he wanted a traditional
marriage that included a dowry.
The brave heart lady was not willing to be domesticated, so she decided
to end the relationship. She then met Brij Bedi at the Amritsar tennis
courts who shared same interests, beliefs and goals. He was nine years
elder to her. They married in 1972 in the most unique marriage ceremony
of the yesteryears. Neither of them believed in religious ceremonies,
or an expensive marriage ritual. Therefore they went to the Shiva
temple and prayed, going around the temple seven times. Then they
organized a joint reception paid from their combined earnings.
When Kiran and Brij Bedi learnt that their carers needed special
attention both of them decided to lead a separate life by remaining
soul companions. Both of them took delight in leading a life that
reciprocates growth of an individual. When a far they took the delight
in expressing their loneliness, unhappiness, and distance in the form
of poetry. This kind of marital arrangement is unconventional in India
even till this date. With both parental and marital support, Kiran
strived to make a difference around her.
Kiran and Brij had a
daughter, Saina, three years after Kiran started her career in the
Indian Police Service (IPS). Saina is also involved in community
service. She along with her husband Ruzbeh N. Bharucha, (a journalist
by profession) produce short films and documentaries.
Her Career
When asked in an interview why did she choose career in Police she
promptly replied, " For me policing is not punitive. It always stood
for social welfare. But tough welfare. Where I could command welfare, I
could demand welfare, and I could produce welfare."
Kiran Bedi began her career as a lecturer in Political Science (1970
-72). She left the post soon after she got selected for the Indian
Police Service in the year 1972. In the police service she served in a
number of different and challenging assignments that range from Traffic
Commissioner of New Delhi, Deputy Inspector General of Police in
insurgency prone Mizoram, Advisor to the Lieutanent Governor of
Chandigarh, Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau and also on a
United Nationsdeputation.
Kiran Bedi did not fear anybody. For
her the law was the same for all, be it the President of India or any
commoner. It is said that she once towed the Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi car for parking violation who was on tour of United States.
Kiran Bedi also influenced other areas like control of narcotics,
traffic management and VIP security. During her transfer to Tihar Jail
as the Inspector General of Prison she worked relentlessly to give
jailed convicts a new lease of life through meditation and
spiritualism. She initiated a number of measures in prison management
some of them are yoga, vipassana meditation, and redressing of
complaints by prisoners. Her humane and fearless approach has
contributed greatly to innumerable innovative policing and prison
reforms.
Kiran Bedi has set up two major voluntary organizations called Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation
with the objectives of improving the condition of the drug addicts and
the downtrodden. Her organization has been applauded from far and wide.
It was also awarded 'Serge Soitiroff Memorial Award' for drug abuse
prevention by the United Nations. She has recently been appointed as
Director General of India's Bureau of Police Research and Development.
Earlier, she was Police Advisor in the United Nations peacekeeping
department, and has also been honored with the UN medal for outstanding
service.
Her Awards - President's Gallantry Award (1979)
- Women of the Year Award (1980)
- Asia Region Award for Drug Prevention and Control (1991)
- Magsaysay Award (1994) for Government Service (also called the Asian Nobel Prize)
- Mahila Shiromani Award (1995)
- Father Machismo Humanitarian Award (1995)
- Lion of the Year (1995)
- Joseph Beuys Award (1997)
- Pride of India (1999)
- Mother Teresa Memorial National Award for Social Justice (2005)
Edited by aamir - 13 years ago
