Who is this video about?

Kiran Bedi is India’s first and highest ranking woman officer. Having completed her Masters Degree in Political Science from Punjab University, she began her career as a lecturer at Khalsa College for Women in Amritsar and joined Indian Police Service in 1972. She also obtained a degree in Law (LLB) from Delhi University in 1988 and was awarded a Ph. D degree for her research in ‘Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence’ from Social Sciences Department of IIT, New Delhi. Kiran Bedi excelled even at sports, particularly tennis and won the championship of all-India and all-Asian tennis competition.

With more than 35 years of experience in tough, innovative and welfare policing, Kiran Bedi had efficiently served an array of challenging assignments like Traffic Commissioner of New Delhi, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Mizoram and Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Chandigarh. She was also called as ‘Crane Bedi’ because she ordered to tow away the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi’s car as it had violated the parking rules. She had also been a part of peace keeping operations where she worked with United Nations as the Police Advisor to the Secretary General.

Kiran’s innovative steps in policing and her reform activities brought her recognition both in India and abroad. She introduced many reforms in the prison management when she was serving as the Inspector General of Prisons, Tihar Jail during the year 1993-1995. She brought in measures like spiritual programs in the form of yoga, meditation, prisoner’s grievance redressal and literacy programs.

All through her career she had won many awards and accolades and was the only Indian Police to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the year 1994 for her pioneering effort in the government services. A biography on the life of Kiran Bedi, I Dare!: Kiran Bedi: A Biography written by Parmesh Dangwal was released in 1995. In September 1998, she wrote a book, It's Always Possible: One Woman's Transformation of India's Prison System that documents Tihar and its transformation from criminality to humanity. She is also the founder of two NGOs Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation.

Her disappointment over denial in giving her the post of Delhi Police Commissioner made her opt for voluntary retirement in November 2007 and decided to take up fresh challenges outside the system.

What is this video about?

In this rare and comprehensive interview, Kiran Bedi talks on:

1. Her childhood, family support/influence, her interest in tennis, the vision and the ambition of becoming an IPS.
2. Her achievements and challenges / Highs-Lows, that she faced as an IPS officer
   - Her achievements
   - The challenges during the Tihar Jail reforms and her endurance in dealing with them
   - The Peace Mission operation with the United Nations Organization (UNO)
   - Her senior officials and mentors who have always been a source of inspiration for her
   - Also about the reason for her early retirement.
3. Her plans as a bar council member and speaks about women as leaders, the challenges they face in holding high positions in a male dominated society and systems.

Video Details

Title : An Interview with Kiran Bedi, India’s First Woman IPS Officer, Former DG, Delhi Police

Released Date: 18^th May,2009.

Interviewed by Dr. Nagendra V Chowdary(Dean, IBSCDC, Hyderabad), Prof. Hilda Amalraj(Associate Dean, IBS Hyderabad), Mr. Siddharth Shankar.

Price : $ (1000 INR)

Duration : 1 hr