Biography of Kiran Bedi – Kiran Bedi was the first woman to join the Indian Police Service (IPS) and who played a key role in initiating prison reforms in India. She was the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry from 28 May 2016 to 16 February 2021. Kiran Bedi is an Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Bedi went into politics after retiring from the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 2007. She was the first Indian woman to join the post of Officer’s IPS in 1972. During his tenure, she served as director general in the Bureau of Police Research and Development.
Bedi has also been mentioned for her role as a social worker. Magsaysay award winner Kiran Bedi was one of the most active members of the Anna Hazare-led civil society in 1994 who launched a movement to enact the Jana Lokpal Bill, a powerful anti-corruption law. She officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on January 15, 2015, and was elected as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the 2015 Delhi assembly elections.
Kiran Bedi is India’s first female IPS officer. She was a very brave and high-minded female IPS officer. She has made great progress in Delhi’s Tihar jail. Kiran Bedi has served the police as well as held many other important posts. She presented the issue of women empowerment not only as a police officer but also as a police officer to improve the condition of prisoners and in addition to all this she presented herself as a strong politician and social worker.
Biography of Kiran Bedi
| Name | Kiran Bedi[1] |
| Date of Birth | June 9, 1949 |
| Birth Place | Amritsar, Punjab |
| Father’s Name | Prakash Lal |
| Mother’s Name | Prem Lata |
| Spouse name | Braj Bedi |
| Children | Sina Bedi |
| Education | 1. President’s Gallantry Award. 2. Women of the Year award by National Solidity Weekly of India in 1981 3. In 1991, the International Organization of Good Templars of Norway (I. O. G. T.) Asia Region Award for Drug Prevention and Control (Asia Region Award) 4. International Women’s Award in 1992 5. Magsaysay Award by The Award Foundation in 1994 (Magsaysay Award) 6. The Mahila Shiromani Award, Fr Maschio Humanitarian Award and Lion of the Year 7. Award by the Bombay-India Don Bosco Mtunga in 1995. 8. Pride of India Award (Pride of India Award) by the American Federation of Muslim of Indian Origin (AFMI) in 1999 9. Women of the Year Award by the Blue Drop Group Management, 10. Cultural and Artistic Association of Italy in 2002 11. United Nations Medal by the United Nations in 2004 (United Nations Medal) 12. Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice by Harmony Foundation in 2005 13. Suryadutta National Award by Suryadutta Group of Institutes 2007 14. Women’s Excellence Award by (Aaj Tak) in 2009 15. Tarun Kranti Puraskar – 2010 in women empowerment category by Tarun Puraskar Parishad in 2010 16. Indian Humanities Development Award (Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar) by The Indian Institute of Planning and Management in 2011 17. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Service (Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Service) by Roy University in 2013 |
| Awards & Recognition | 1. President’s Gallantry Award. 2. Women of the Year award by National Solidity Weekly of India in 1981 3. In 1991, the International Organization of Good Templars of Norway (I. O. G. T.) Asia Region Award for Drug Prevention and Control (Asia Region Award) 4. International Women’s Award in 1992 5. Magsaysay Award by The Award Foundation in 1994 (Magsaysay Award) 6. The Mahila Shiromani Award, Fr Maschio Humanitarian Award and Lion of the Year 7. Award by the Bombay-India Don Bosco Mtunga in 1995. 8. Pride of India Award (Pride of India Award) by the American Federation of Muslim of Indian Origin (AFMI) in 1999 9. Women of the Year Award by the Blue Drop Group Management, 10. Cultural and Artistic Association of Italy in 2002 11. United Nations Medal by the United Nations in 2004 (United Nations Medal) 12. Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice by harmony foundation in 2005 13. Suryadutta National Award by Suryadutta Group of Institutes 2007 14. Women’s Excellence Award by (Aaj Tak) in 2009 15. Tarun Kranti Puraskar – 2010 in women empowerment category by Tarun Puraskar Parishad in 2010 16. Indian Humanities Development Award (Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar) by The Indian Institute of Planning and Management in 2011 17. Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Service (Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Service) by Roy University in 2013 |
Early Life and Education of Kiran Bedi
Kiran Bedi was born on June 9, 1949, to a wealthy Punjabi business family in Amritsar, Punjab. Her father’s name is Prakash Lal Pesawaria and her mother’s name is Prem Lata. Kiran Bedi was their second daughter. Kiran Bedi has three sisters: Shashi, Rita, and Anu. Kiran Bedi’s upbringing was not very religious, but she grew up in both Hindu and Sikh traditions (her grandmother was a Sikh). Her parents made several sacrifices so that all their daughters could get their education and succeed in a male-dominated society. Kiran Bedi loved sports, especially tennis, at a young age and won the Asian Women’s Lawn Tennis Championship. Even if Indian society was not conducive to women at that time, Bedi did not lose hope. In 1972, Kiran Bedi married Brij Bedi.
Kiran Bedi had an early education from Sacred Heart Convent School in Amritsar. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in English from Government Women’s College in Amritsar. She received her Master’s degree in Political Science from Punjab University in Chandigarh. In 1988, while she was serving as director general of police, she received a degree in Law (LLB) from Delhi University.
In 1993, the department of Social Sciences awarded her a PhD degree. The subject of her research was Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence. Kiran Bedi has won the All-India and All-Asian tennis championships. When she was 22, she won the Asian Ladies title.
Also Read: Biography of Jyotiba Phule
Career life of Kiran Bedi
Kiran Bedi did not start her career as a police officer, she first spent her career as a lecturer in political science at Khalsa College for Women in Amritsar in 1970. Two years into her teaching career, she passed the civil services examination and became an IPS officer. This made her the first woman in India to join the services.
During her career in the Indian Police Service, she served as the Head of The New Delhi Traffic Police, DIG, Mizoram Police, Advisor to the Deputy Governor of Chandigarh, Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau, and Civil Police Advisor to the UN Peacekeeping Mission. She was honored with the post of Un for her work.
Kiran Bedi introduced several reforms in the management of Delhi’s Tihar jail when she was inspector general of jails in 1993-1995. Various programs introduced by her under this campaign saw positive changes in the lives of prisoners. Her short tenure was remembered as a golden period in the history of prison, Kiran Bedi won the Ramon Magsaysay Award and Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship in 1994. Kiran Bedi’s last stand in IPS was as Director General of India’s Bureau of Police Research & Development. In May 2005, she was awarded a Doctor of Law honorary degree in recognition of “prison reform and humanitarian approach to the police.” Two years later, Bedi voluntarily decided to retire from the police service and was allowed to do so by the Government of India. On December 25, 2007, she retired to dedicate herself to social issues.
Social Work Activities
In 1987, Kiran Bedi launched an NGO called Navjyoti India Foundation (NIF). The NGO aims to de-addict drug addicts and to other social issues such as rehabilitation illiteracy and women empowerment. She started the India Vision Foundation in 1994 which has been working for police reforms, prison reforms, women empowerment, and rural and community development. She was the host of the TV show “Aap Ki Kachehri” which aimed at resolving the family disputes of citizens. Kiran Bedi joined the India Against Corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare in August 2011.
Kiran Bedi’s Political Career
Kiran Bedi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On January 15, 2015, the BJP inducted Kiran Bedi into the party in the presence of Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Bedi joined the party a day after interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Eight months after Modi’s election, she joined BJP in 2015. She was BJP’s Chief Minister (CM) candidate for the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, in which Arvind Kejriwal was AAP’s CM candidate. She lost the election from Krishna Nagar constituency to AAP candidate SK Bagga by a margin of 2277 votes, and AAP came to power again with an absolute majority after one year. Earlier on 22 May 2016, Bedi was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
Conclusion
Politician, social worker, and former Indian police officer Kiran Bedi is the inspiration of every Indian with her own bravery and morale. Kiran Bedi did not give up when the government was against her; She stood by her principles. Kiran Bedi is not only a role model for women but she is also a role model for men. She is a versatile Indian woman, and one of the bravest women police officers, whose motto of life is to fight crime and injustice and never give up. She is a woman of dignity, honesty, confidence, and courage with deep sympathy for the poor people of society. All these qualities make her a very commendable officer.
FAQ
1. When and where was Kiran Bedi born?
Ans: Kiran Bedi was born on June 9, 1949, in Amritsar, Punjab.
2. Who was the India’s first female IPS officer?
Ans: Kiran Bedi.
3. When did Kiran Bedi won Magsaysay Award?
Ans: Kiran Bedi won Magsaysay Award by The Award Foundation in 1994.
4. When did Kiran Bedi joined Bharatiya Janata Party?
Ans: She joined the BJP in 2015.
5. When Kiran Bedi was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry?
Ans: Kiran Bedi was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on 22 May 2016.
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