Kiran Bedi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiran Bedi
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| 24th Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry | |
| In office 28 May 2016 – 16 February 2021 |
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| Chief Minister | V. Narayanasamy |
| Preceded by | A. K. Singh |
| Succeeded by | Tamilisai Soundararajan (additional charge) |
| Director General of Bureau of Police Research and Development | |
| In office 2005–2007 |
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| Police Adviser and Director of United Nations Police | |
| In office 2003–2005 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kiran Peshawaria
9 June 1949 Amritsar, East Punjab, India |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Other political affiliations |
National Democratic Alliance |
| Spouse |
Brij Bedi
(m. 1972; died 2016) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Anu Peshawaria (Sister), Tek Chandra Arora |
| Residence | New Delhi |
| Education | Sacred Heart Convent School Cambridge College |
| Alma mater | S.R. Govt. College (BA Hons.) (MA) Delhi University (LL.B.) IIT Delhi (Ph.D.) |
| Awards |
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Kiran Bedi (born 9 June 1949) is a famous Indian leader. She was a tennis player who made history. In 1972, she became the first woman in India to join the Indian Police Service (IPS). She served for 35 years. Later, she was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry from 2016 to 2021.
As a teenager, Kiran Bedi was a national junior tennis champion. She won many titles between 1965 and 1978. After joining the IPS, she worked in different cities. These included Delhi, Goa, Chandigarh, and Mizoram. She started as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Delhi. She received the President's Police Medal in 1979. She also worked to reduce crimes against women in West Delhi. As a traffic police officer, she managed traffic for big events. These included the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi.
In 1993, Bedi became the Inspector General (IG) of Delhi Prisons. She brought many positive changes to Tihar Jail. For her work, she won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1994. In 2003, she was the first Indian and first woman to lead the United Nations Police. She retired in 2007 to focus on social work and writing. She runs the India Vision Foundation. She also hosted a TV show called Aap Ki Kachehri. In 2015, she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Kiran Peshawaria was born on 9 June 1949. Her family lived in Amritsar, East Punjab, India. Her parents were Prakash Lal Peshawaria and Prem Lata. She has three sisters: Shashi, Reeta, and Anu. Her family had a business background.
Kiran started school in 1954 at Sacred Heart Convent School. She also joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC). When she was in Class 9, she moved to Cambridge College. This private school helped her prepare for her matriculation exam. She finished Class 10 earlier than her old schoolmates.
In 1968, Kiran graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She received the NCC Cadet Officer Award that same year. In 1970, she earned a Master's degree in Political Science from Panjab University. She then taught political science at Khalsa College for Women. Later, while working as a police officer, she continued her studies. She earned a law degree in 1988. In 1993, she received a PhD from IIT Delhi. Her PhD research focused on social issues.
Tennis Career
Kiran Bedi started playing tennis when she was nine years old. Her father inspired her love for the sport. To help her game, she even cut her hair short. In 1964, she played in her first national junior championship. Two years later, in 1966, she won the trophy.
Between 1965 and 1978, Kiran Bedi won many tennis championships.
- Junior National Lawn Tennis Championship (1966)
- All-India Intervarsity Tennis Title (1968)
- Northern India Lawn Tennis Championship (1970)
- Asian Lawn Tennis Championship (1972)
- All-India Hard Court Tennis Championship (1974)
- All India Interstate Women's Lawn Tennis Championship (1975)
- National Women's Lawn Tennis Championship (1976)
- Gold medal, National Sports Festival for Women (1976)
She also helped the Indian team win a trophy against Sri Lanka. Kiran Bedi played tennis until she was thirty. Then, she focused more on her police career. In 1972, she married Brij Bedi, who was also a tennis player.
Indian Police Service Career
Kiran Bedi was inspired to join public service by senior officers she met. On 16 July 1972, she began her police training. She was the only woman in her group of 80 men. This made her the first woman IPS officer in India. She trained for several months in different places. She was assigned to the union territory police force.
First Posting in Delhi
Bedi's first job was in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi in 1975. That same year, she became the first woman to lead the Delhi Police group at the Republic Day Parade. Her daughter, Sukriti, was born in September 1975.
Chandni Chowk was a busy area with important buildings. Kiran Bedi focused on preventing violence during protests. In 1980, she received the President's Police Medal for her bravery. She stopped a group of protesters who were throwing bricks.
In 1979, she moved to Delhi's West District. There, she encouraged people to help fight crime. She started an "open door policy" to talk with citizens. She also set up "beat boxes" for complaints. Within three months, crime rates dropped. Cases of violence against women also decreased.
In 1981, Bedi became the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic). She worked to improve traffic flow for the 1982 Asian Games. She made sure different city departments worked together. She was strict with drivers who parked illegally. Her team used tow trucks to remove wrongly parked cars. This earned her the nickname "Crane Bedi." She even had a car from the Prime Minister's Office towed away.
After the Asian Games, she received an award for her excellent work. She insisted the award be given to the entire traffic unit. She also helped get new jeeps for her officers.
Goa Assignment
In March 1983, Kiran Bedi was transferred to Goa. She was assigned there for three years. One day, she saw many people waiting for ferries to cross the Zuari River. A new bridge was ready but not yet opened. She decided to open the bridge to the public. This helped many people but upset some politicians.
In November 1983, Goa hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet. Bedi used young cadets to help manage traffic for the event.
Soon after, her daughter became very ill in Delhi. Kiran Bedi asked for leave to care for her. Even though her leave was not officially approved, she went to Delhi. Her daughter was in the hospital. The Chief Minister of Goa said she was absent without leave. However, news reports showed her daughter's serious condition.
Return to Delhi
After returning to Delhi, Kiran Bedi was without a job for six months. Once her daughter was stable, she was given a new role. She worked for the Railway Protection Force. Later, she became a deputy director in the Department of Industrial Development. She helped solve problems between workers and management.
In 1985, she was asked to join the police headquarters. There, she helped clear many pending files. She also approved 1,600 promotions to motivate the staff.
Mizoram Posting
After some challenges, Kiran Bedi asked to be transferred to Mizoram. This was a remote state in North-East India. She hoped this "hard" posting would lead to a desired job in Delhi later. She moved to Aizawl in April 1990 with her parents and daughter.
While in Mizoram, she worked on her PhD research. She also started writing her autobiography. In 1992, her daughter applied for a medical college seat. Some students in Mizoram protested because her daughter was not from Mizoram. Kiran Bedi refused to give up the seat, saying her daughter earned it. As protests grew, she left Aizawl for Delhi.
Delhi Prisons Inspector-General
In May 1993, Kiran Bedi was made Inspector General (IG) of Delhi Prisons. This meant she was in charge of Tihar Jail. Tihar was a very crowded and difficult prison. It was known for violence, and many officers did not want to work there.
Tihar Jail Reforms
Kiran Bedi decided to make Tihar a better place. She introduced many changes.
- She separated dangerous criminals from others.
- She started vocational training for prisoners. This helped them learn skills for jobs after release.
- She brought in the Indira Gandhi National Open University and National Open School. This allowed prisoners to study.
- She set up legal help centers for prisoners waiting for trial.
- She banned smoking in the prison.
- She introduced yoga and Vipassana meditation classes. These helped prisoners change their mindset.
- She organized sports, prayers, and festival celebrations.
- She opened a de-addiction center and a bank inside the prison.
- She set up small factories for carpentry and weaving. Profits from these went to prisoner welfare.
Bedi regularly visited the prison. She listened to complaints and checked food quality. She created a system where respected prisoners helped solve problems. She also set up suggestion boxes for prisoners.
Her reforms led to fewer fights and problems in the jail. Even hardened criminals started to behave better. In May 1994, she organized a "health day" with many doctors.
Removal from Tihar
Kiran Bedi's prison reforms were praised worldwide. However, some officials were not happy. They accused her of making the prison less secure. In 1994, she received the Ramon Magsaysay Award. She was also invited to speak in the US by President Bill Clinton. The Delhi Government initially refused to let her go. After public and media pressure, she was allowed to attend. This made some government officials dislike her.
She was also invited by the United Nations. Again, the Delhi Government tried to stop her. This led to more tension. Some officials accused her of allowing too many visitors. They also said she gave special favors to a criminal, which she denied. On 3 May 1995, Kiran Bedi was removed from her post at Tihar. When this happened, prisoners protested, while some staff celebrated. She said "unethical politicians" were making false accusations.
After Tihar
After leaving Tihar, Bedi became head of training at the police academy. She also served as Joint Commissioner of Police and Special Commissioner (Intelligence) of Delhi Police.
In 1999, she was appointed Inspector-General of Police in Chandigarh. Her mother became ill, so Bedi asked to be transferred back to Delhi. She returned to Delhi in May, but her mother passed away soon after.
In 2003, Kiran Bedi became the first woman to be appointed the United Nations civilian police adviser. She worked in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. In 2005, she returned to Delhi. She was made Director General of Home Guards. Before retiring, she was Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
In 2007, she applied to be Delhi Police Commissioner. However, a more junior officer was chosen instead. Bedi felt she was overlooked due to bias. She resigned from police service in November 2007. She said she wanted to focus on social work.
Social Work
Kiran Bedi co-founded the Navjyoti Delhi Police Foundation. It was renamed Navjyoti India Foundation in 2007. This foundation has helped many people. It provides support for those struggling with addiction. It also runs programs to prevent crime. These programs include educating street children and slum kids. The foundation has set up schools, training centers, and health facilities. In 2010, it opened the Navjyoti Community College.
Bedi also started the India Vision Foundation (IVF) in 1994. IVF works on police reforms and women's empowerment. It also focuses on rural development. For police reform, Bedi supports better training. She also wants to protect officers from political interference. For women's rights, she promotes equal education and property ownership for women. She believes rural women need to be empowered faster.
She often speaks about social issues like education and domestic violence. From 2008 to 2011, she hosted a TV show called Aap Ki Kachehri. On this show, she helped resolve everyday conflicts. In 2008, she launched a website. This website helps people whose complaints are not accepted by the local police.
Anti-Corruption Movement
In 2010, Kiran Bedi joined Arvind Kejriwal and other activists. They formed the India Against Corruption (IAC) group. This group led the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement. They demanded a stronger anti-corruption law called the Jan Lokpal Bill. In August 2011, Bedi and other activists were arrested before a planned hunger strike. They were released later that day. After many protests and talks, the Parliament agreed to consider their demands.
Politics
Kiran Bedi later separated from the IAC group. In 2012, Arvind Kejriwal formed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). During the 2014 Indian general election, Bedi supported Narendra Modi. Modi was the prime ministerial candidate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In 2015, Kiran Bedi joined the BJP. She was the BJP's candidate for Chief Minister in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections. She lost the election to the AAP candidate.
On 22 May 2016, Bedi was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry
Kiran Bedi became the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on 29 May 2016. She aimed to make Puducherry prosperous. She opened the gates of Raj Nivas, the Governor's official home, to the public. She called it the "People’s Nivas." She held "open house" sessions for people to meet her and share their problems. She also took morning bicycle rides to check public services and talk to people.
Raj Nivas also had special "visitor hours" for the public. People could see the historic building and take pictures with her.
In 2017, Bedi received complaints about medical college admissions. She visited the office and ordered fair and open admissions. She also told private colleges to admit students from government quotas.
Another project she started was ‘Mission Water Rich Puducherry’. She helped get community support to clean water channels. This model is now used in other parts of the country. In 2019, she started 'Mission Green Puducherry' by planting trees. Many students and volunteers have continued this effort.
She resigned as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on 16 February 2021.
Author
Kiran Bedi has written several books, including:
- It's Always Possible (1999)
- What Went Wrong (2007)
- As I See... (2010)
- Broom & Groom (2010)
- Fearless Governance (2022)
- Dr. Kiran Bedi : Creating Leadership (2016)
- Himmat Hai Kiran Bedi (2016)
Personal Life
Kiran Bedi was born Kiran Peshawaria. Her parents were Prakash Lal Peshawaria and Prem Lata Peshawaria. She has three younger sisters.
Kiran met her husband, Brij Bedi, while playing tennis in Amritsar. They married on 9 March 1972. Brij Bedi supported her career goals. They had a daughter named Sukriti (who later changed her name to Saina) in 1975. Brij Bedi passed away on 31 January 2016.
Awards and Recognitions
Kiran Bedi has received many awards for her work:
- 1968: Cadet Officer Award for her performance in the National Cadet Corps.
- 1979: President's Police Medal for bravery during protests.
- 1991: Asia Region Award for drug prevention.
- 1994: Ramon Magsaysay Award for her government service and prison reforms.
- 1995: Fr Maschio Humanitarian Award for social reforms.
- 1995: Lion of the Year for community service.
- 1997: Joseph Beuys Prize for her innovative prison management.
- 1999: Pride of India for her commitment to human welfare.
- 1999–2000: IIT Delhi Alumni Award for outstanding national development.
- 2001: Morrison Tom Gitchoff Award for improving justice in India.
- 2004: United Nations Medal for outstanding service.
- 2005: Mother Teresa Memorial National Award for Social Justice.
- 2006: Named "Most Admired Woman in the Country" by The Week magazine.
- 2008: FICCI Award of Excellence as an outstanding woman achiever.
- 2008: Kumarappa-Reckless Award for contributions to criminal justice.
- 2013: Nomura Award for humanitarian work.
- 2014: L’Oreal Paris Femina Women Award for social impact.
In 2005, CUNY School of Law gave her an honorary Doctor of Law degree. This was for her kind approach to prison reforms. The Navjyoti Delhi Police Foundation also received an award in 1999 for its work in drug control.
Images for kids
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Bedi at Successful Women in Management (SWIM) Conference in 2009
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Group of women in the Navjyoti India Foundation
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Kiran Bedi with Anna Hazare.
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Kiran Bedi at Ramlila maidan for Jan Lokpal Bill.
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Bedi (right) at the launch of a book on Narendra Modi in March 2014
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Bedi as Lt. Governor of Puducherry
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Bedi leading a cycle rally at Karaikal.
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Dr.Kiran Bedi with Sanitation Workers during a cleaning campaign at Puducherry
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Bedi performing Yoga along with other participants, on the occasion of the 2nd International Day of Yoga – 2016, at Beach Road, Puducherry on June 21, 2016
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Kiran Bedi presents her book "Creating Leadership" to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on January 13, 2016
See also
In Spanish: Kiran Bedi para niños
