Dr Kiran Bedi - Indian social activist and former IPS Officer

Dr Kiran Bedi is one of the most admired Indian celebrities. She is also India’s first and highest ranking woman officer who joined the Indian Police Service in 1972. She sought voluntary retirement in the year 2007. She has played many roles in her life. Dr Kiren Bedi has lived in the role of a fearless and daring Officer for 35 years of service. She has also been a Lecturer and Tennis Champion. She has authored several books and had been an actress and anchor for radio and television shows. She also has been a columnist with leading newspapers and magazines. She is a sought after speaker on social, professional and leadership issues. She is seen in the 'No Marks' Advertisement where she saying getting a clean reputation is not an easy job. She also made her television debut as host and judge of the show ‘Aapki Kacheri Kiren ke saath’ which has resolved several quarrels and problems amicably in one sitting without going to the Court which may take years to solve it. The documentary made on Kiran Bedi’s life (Yes Madam, Sir) by Australian film maker Megan Doneman was the winner of the Best Documentary Award with a cash award of $100,000 and Social Justice Award with $2500 at Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Another documentary on her, In Gandhi's footsteps, also was awarded the Best Documentary at the Indo-American Film Festival in Atlanta.

Dr Kiran Bedi has found two Voluntary Organizations, Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation dealing in the areas of Drug abuse treatment, schooling for children of prisoners and health care to the urban and rural poor. She is also one of the key members of Social worker Anna Hazare’s India against Corruption (IAC), a people's movement to demand comprehensive reforms of anti-corruption systems in India. IAC made its mark protesting against corruption and is urging the government of India to enact a strong Lokpal Bill.

Kiran was born on 9th June 1949 in Amritsar as the second of the four daughters to her parents Prakash Lal Peshawaria and Prem Lata Peshawaria. Kirens sisters are Shashi, Reeta and Anu. As a child born in a well to do family, Kiren or her sisters were never considered as a burden and received the best of education and environment possible to excel in their respective fields. Her parents sacrificed a great deal so that their daughters could go to the best schools, learn sports and be exceptional in the male dominated country. Kiren and her sister have been National and Asian Tennis Champions. Kiren completed her schooling and graduation in Arts from Amritsar. After that she did a Master's degree in Political science from Punjab University. As an avid learner she also acquired a Degree in Law (LLB) in 1988 from Delhi University. She was also awarded a Ph.D. in 1993 in Social Sciences by the Department of Social Sciences, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. She also has two honorary Doctorates - one from the Guru Nanak Dev University of Amritsar in the year 2003 for her contribution in the field of Police Administration and the other from Cuny School of Law at Queens College, the City University of New York in the year 2005 for transforming policing.

Kiran began her career as a lecturer in Political Science (1970 -72) at Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar, Punjab. She left the post soon after she got selected for the Indian Police Service in the year 1972. It was because of her association with Tennis Courts that she met her husband Brij Bedi who was 9 years elder to her and shared the same interests and beliefs. She married Brij Bedi who was a former University Tennis Player, textile Engineer by Profession and a renowned Social Activist in the year 1972 in a simple marriage ceremony. The couple has a Daughter Saina who is involved in Community Service. She is married to Ruzbeh N Bharucha who is a journalist by profession and an author who has produced several short films and documentaries.

Kiran Bedi IPS served in the Indian Police Services for 35 years and made her name as a courageous and fearless Police Officer. In the police service she served in a number of different and challenging assignments that range from Traffic Commissioner of New Delhi, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Mizoram, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Chandigarh and Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau. She also earned name and got into several controversies because of her ‘I dare’ attitude. Kiren Bedi towed Indira Gandhi's car for parking violation. For her the law was same for all, be it the Prime Minister of the country or the common man. During her service at Tihar Jail, one of the world’s largest prisons, as the Inspector General of Prison she was moved at the plight of the prisoners and their family. She worked relentlessly to give jailed convicts a new lease of life through meditation and spiritualism. She initiated a number of measures in prison management including yoga, meditation and redressing of complaints by prisoners. She has worked with the United Nations as the Police Advisor to the Secretary General, in the Department of Peace Keeping Operations. She has represented India at the United Nations and in International forums on crime prevention, drug abuse, police and prison reforms and women’s issues. She has received a dozen awards for her valuable contribution to the society including the President's Gallantry Award (1979), Women of the Year Award (1980,Mahila Shiromani Award (1995) and Pride of India (1999).