Dr. Kiran Bedi
About
Inspiring the women in India by becoming the first female to join the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1972, Dr Kiran Bedi laid a new trail for women’s ambitions.
As a teenager, Bedi was crowned the national junior tennis champion in 1966. Between 1965 and 1978, she won several titles at various national and state-level championships. After joining the IPS, Bedi served in Delhi, Goa, Chandigarh and Mizoram. She started her career as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and won the President's Police Medal in 1979. She holds a Masters Degree in Political Science and a Doctorate Degree in Social Sciences from IIT Delhi.
She remained in service for 35 years before taking voluntary retirement in 2007 as Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development.
Awards and Accomplishments
Awards and Accomplishments
In 1993, Bedi was posted to the Delhi Prisons as Inspector General (IG). She introduced several reforms at Tihar Jail, which gained worldwide acclaim and won her the ‘Ramon Magsaysay Award’. She also won the ‘President’s Gallantry Award in 1979’ and the ‘Women of the Year Award’ in 1980.
In 2003, Bedi became the first Indian and first woman to be appointed ‘Head of the United Nations Police and Police Advisor’ in the United Nations Department of Peace Operations.
She has written several bestselling books such as As I See…, It’s Always Possible: One Woman’s Transformation of India’s Prison System, and more. During 2008–11, she hosted a popular reality show Aap Ki Kachehri on Star Plus.
Why Dr. Kiran Bedi ?
By being a trail blazer for women in the country, Kiran Bedi is an inspiration for all. She managed one of India’s toughest prisons and used a new focus on prevention and education to turn it into a centre of learning and meditation.
Bedi is one of the most trusted and admired community leaders in India. She advocates for social change and civic responsibility. Through her two NGOs, Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation, she is able to reach out to more than 10,000 people daily. These NGOs provide education, training, counselling and health care to the urban and rural poor.
