Kiran Bedi was taught by her unconventional parents to compete and "to think equally." An excellent student and tennis player, she won the women's lawn tennis championship of Asia when she was twenty two (1972). That same year she entered the Police Academy and, in 1974, became the first woman to enter the elite Indian Police Service. She was assigned to the capital city and rose rapidly in the ranks, winning national acclaim and a presidential award in 1978.

Kiran Bedi is presently on Deputation to United Nations as Civilian Police Adviser in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
She was voted Number one in a nation-wide TN Sofres Mode Poll on the Ten Most Admired Women" that was published in India in The Week (15 September 2002)
Among the numerous awards that she has won are the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Human Service, 1994 by the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation, Philippines. (This is first such award to a Police Officer in Asia. It is perhaps the first time a Police Officer in the world was awarded a PEACE Award) She also was awarded Police Medal for Gallantry by the President of India.

Ms. Bedi was in town recently as the chief guest of Saheli's Rhythm and Spice event on Saturday July 24th at the Brookline High School. She sat down to chat with representatives of the local media before the show began.

Her petite form and mild manners belie an interior that is as tough as it is soft and as determined as it is flexible. She walked into the room, her eyes warming up as she was introduced to members of the media. Within five minutes she has us all eating out of her hands with her earnestness and her down-to earth manner.

Her sense of humor and appetite for fun seemed endless. She had the room in splits when she described her breakfast at the White House with Bill Clinton. " Oh, it wasn't much fun, the breakfast was cold. The milk, the cereal, the fruits were all ice cold! What is this with Americans and cold food? Give me a hot Indian breakfast any day! And what did she think President Bill Clinton? She dismisses him with ' He is just too tall!'

And later while watching the bands Natraj and Karyshma perform, she admitted to a weakness for good music. On stage too, she made an instant rapport with the audience. At the onset she requested that the lights be on the auditorium so that she could see the people she was addressing. Then in an impromptu gesture, she invited a close friend from her college days up on the stage to sing a song.

That evening the most oft repeated sentiment, (that was expressed by strangers to Ms. Bedi ) we recorded was ' You are my inspiration. You are my role model.' It is evident that Ms.Bedi inspires a whole generation of women and men to strive to be as genuine an article that she herself is.

On family, interest in sports and literary pursuits.

I was born in Amritsar on June 9, 1949, and did my early schooling and graduation there.
I have to attribute every success to my parents who instilled a sense of discipline early in my life. Our house was always filled with love. My parents had dreams for all of us, they dreamt, not to see me dressed a bride but as a career woman. They taught me to have strength in my conviction.
The profession of a police officer was both destiny and choice. My parents and the police training taught me to undertake every assignment with willingness and devotion.
The year I joined the Police Force, another major event took place. My marriage. Career was planned and executed but love just happened!
Now, I have my husband who supports me in everything that I do. My daughter does too!
I was an excellent tennis player and won the Junior Lawn Tennis championship in 1966, Asian Lawn Tennis Championship in 1972 and the All-India Hard Court Tennis Championship in 1974, and represented India twice against Sri Lanka and won the title.
I have authored the books 'It's Always Possible'What Went Wrong, ' As I see' and 'I Dare'
On becoming a police officer?

I was a people and community-oriented person growing up. I also was very outdoorsy.I could have ended up in social work but since I was a political science student I was naturally attracted to the Civil Service. I opted for the Indian Police Service because it allowed for working directly with people and also gave me the power to deliver, serve, contribute and correct. I was a sports girl, action oriented. This line of work provides instant results and satisfies my desire to see justice being done. I want to work hands on with people. Unlike the Civil Service which allows limited contact with people, I can see people and interact with people in my line of work.

On being a Woman in a Man's field of work.

Oh, It was a breeze. I had beaten most of the men at the academy already. No, no, not physically but at Tennis and I was a well-known name when I joined the force. I never let the fact that I was a woman stop me from achieving anything that I put my heart into.

You are known to be a tough officer with a realistic and humane approach, which was evident during your tenure at Tihar. How do you feel about that experience

The Tihar assignment proved a milestone in my life, as also a great spiritual reveleation Tihar Jail (now Tihar Ashram) is one of the largest prisons in the world. When I joined in May 1993, it was an institution that had a very bad reputation. Within a short period of time we were able to bring about sweeping changes that gave a human face to the administrative structure and opening a new style of prison management. I introduced some new and imaginative reforms, like facilities of petitions by prisoners, panchayats, adult education, higher education and such. The idea was to sensitize and humanize the administration. I think I did succeed as the process is still on. A notable achievement is also that I inducted meditation into police training. I have faith that prisoners and criminals can be reformed and through proper education and care we can take preventive action to make sure that crimes, both large and trivial are prevented.

What about some other notable achievements

As New Delhi's traffic chief, my meticulous planning and ruthlessly impartial enforcement of the rules kept the capital's chaotic flow of vehicles moving at the 1982 Asian Games. When I joined as the traffic chief I knew next to nothing about the traffic state in Delhi. I would wake up at 5 every morning and drive through every street in Delhi, observing, learning and enforcing. Tough but satisfying!
 
On the scale of UN missions compared to past assignments

This time scale is much larger. We have to bring peace through good institutionalized democratic policing, keeping in mind that each mission's history, resources, capabilities and cultures are different. There are so many variables. Advance planning, preparing for a transition and then handing-over are all part of the process. We are generally working on tight budgets as missions are constantly being downsized to facilitate handing over to the local government. It is work on an international scale but our lessons are from our own domestic experiences. One has to imagine and envision all the time to get it right. Each region's needs are unique and have to be handled differently. There are no ready-made solutions available to us. The department has all the elements in place to respond to crises of security and governance, with the authorization and help of member states.

You have been portrayed extensively on the big and small screen but now you have gone and acted in a TV film  The Real Salute yourself. Tell us about that.

Since I had never acted earlier I took it upon as a challenge. What fascinated me most about the script was that it was about the spirit of nationalism and patriotism. There was simplicity and truth in the concept. The film is based on this real life experience in which I play the rag picker who discovers a torn Indian flag in a village dustbin. I pick it up and upon looking at it discover that part of the green color of the flag is torn. I then tear a portion of my green saree and stitch it on the torn portion. Then I mount the flag on a pole with pride and happiness. The tale is very close to my heart. Even now, every time that I look at our country's flag I feel a wave of pride and joy. I urge you all to see the film!

And finally about being here for Saheli.

I salute all Sahelis of the world for doing the work that they do. My support is always with them. It is important for all of us to support the idea of intellectual, moral and spiritual education as a successful tool for the overall progress of an individual and the society at large. Wherever you may be, in whichever strange country, the thought that there are Sahelis to help provide help is a big relief to immigrant women and immigrant families. I fervently believe in the efficiency of preventive and corrective measures. Organizations like Saheli can educate help families to make the right choices.

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