Fighting The Bull By Its Horn

Puducherry’s Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi speaks to Society on her determination to correct the issues, hitting all the right points and being there for the people, while being at administrative helm in the union territory

- CSS Latha

Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi is all about courage and says she lives by a purpose, that of adding to social value. This ideology has seen her on a confrontational mode but she sees no reason why she has to reinvent her philosophy. Biopic is trending in Indian cinema and it won’t be a surprise if someone gets inspired to produce one on Bedi whose life is all about challenges, courage and combat, all the elements that calls for an engrossing, action packed film!

Bedi’s heroic spirit and valour to take on people and issues without hesitation often landed her in the eye of controversy. But she has the courage of conviction to stand by what she fights for.

She was the first woman to join the Indian Police Service (IPS). Famously known as ‘Crane Bedi’ in her days as a strict police officer in Delhi, Kiran lifted cars with cranes from ‘No Parking’ zones including that of VVIPs like the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Bedi who started her career as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Chanakyapuri area in Delhi, won the President’s Police Medal. Bedi served as IPS in Delhi, Goa, Chandigarh and Mizoram. When she moved to West Delhi, she brought down crimes against women.

As a traffic police officer, she was in charge of traffic arrangements for the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi and for the 1983 CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting) meet in Goa. Later as 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 in 1994.