About Kiran Bedi:
Kiran Bedi is a politician of India belonging to BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). She is currently serving as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Union Territory. In 2007, she entered into politics after retiring from IPS (Indian Police Service). In 1972, she was the first woman of India to join IPS Officer’s Ranks.
During her IPS term, she served as Director General at Police Research and Development Bureau. She is also well-known for her Social Activist role. In 1994, she won Magsaysay Award. She was one among the activists of Anna Hazare-led civil society, which launched a movement for the Jan Lokpal Bill, the strong anti-corruption law.
On 15th January 2015, she joined BJP and was appointed as party’s chief ministerial candidate for 2015 elections of Delhi Assembly.
Kiran Bedi Profile:
| Full Name | Kiran Bedi |
| Profession | Union Minister for External Affairs |
| Political Party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Profession | Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Puducherry |
| Kiran Bedi Education | B.A. |
| Personal life | |
| Date of Birth | 9th June 1949 |
| Birth Place | Amritsar, Punjab |
| Father | Prakash Lal Peshawaria |
| Mother | Prem Lata Peshwaria |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse / Husband | Brij Bedi |
| Age | 59 years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
The early life of Kiran Bedi:
She was born on 9th June 1949 in Amritsar of Punjab State to Prem Lata Peshawaria and Prakash Lal Peshawaria.
Education of Kiran Bedi:
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1968, she graduated her BA in English (Hons) from Amritsar’s Government College for Women. In 1970, she completed her Masters in Political Science and was the class topper. In 1972, she married Brij Bedi. The couple had a daughter.
In 1998, she earned her degree in law from the University of Delhi from Faculty of Law while in services as Director General of Police. Later on, she went on to achieve doctorate from the Department of Social Science at IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) in 1993.
Kiran Bedi’s Professional Career:
She did not start her profession as a cop, but she was a lecturer of Political Science at Khalsa College for Women in Amritsar in the year 1970. Later two years of her career as a teacher, she cleared all the examinations of Civil Services and grew to an IPS officer. She is the first woman to enter the Civil Services.
During her career in IPS, she worked as
- chief of Traffic Police of New Delhi
- DIG of Police in Mizoram
- Advisor to Chandigarh Lt. Governor
- Narcotics Control Bureau Director-General
- United Nations PeaceKeeping operations Civilian Police Advisor
For her dedication, she was respected with the United Nations Medal.
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During 1993 to 1995, IPS Kiran Bedi initiated any number of changes in the management of Tihar jail in Delhi when she served as Inspector General of Prisons. Her initiation witnessed many positive changes in prisoners lives. This short period is the golden period in the history of the prison. This made her win the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship and Ramon Magsaysay Award for 1994. The last position she served in IPS was Director General of India’s Bureau of Research and Development in Police. In May 2005, she was awarded with the degree of Doctor of Law in appreciation of her mission “humanitarian approach to prison reforms and policing”. Later after two years, she decided to take voluntary retirement from police services and Indian Government allowed doing so. On 25th December 2007, she retired from her service and to dedicate herself to society.
Social Activities did by Kiran Bedi:
In the year 1987, she started an NGO, NIF (Navjyoti India Foundation) aiming at rehabilitation and de-addiction of drug addicts and expanded it to other issues like women empowerment and illiteracy. In 1994, she also initiated an India Vision Foundation which works for prison reforms, police Reforms, rural development, women empowerment, and community development. She also worked as a host for a Television programme “Aap Ki Kacheri” which aimed to resolve the disputed in the family of citizens.
In August of 2011, she joined India Against Corruption movement which is led by the Anna Hazare, Social Activist. She was prominent during the movement but later parted away with him when he decided to establish a political party.
Kiran Bedi Joins Bharatiya Janata Party:
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Before General Elections of 2014, she supported Narendra Modi as preferred Prime Minister Candidate. On 15th January of 2015, BJP introduced her into the party in the presence of Amit Shah, national president, and Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister. She joined the party and later had talks with PM Narendra Modi.
Delhi Assembly Elections in 2015:
With the popularity in Delhi and her record as “Super Cop”, BJP appointed her as a chief candidate for ministerial operations in 2015 for Delhi Assembly Elections. She contested from BJP’s bastion, Krishna Nagar Constituency. The polling was held on 7th Feb and she lost with 2,277 votes to S.K.Bagga of Aam Aadmi Party.
Awards and Achievements of Kiran Bedi:
Here is the list of Kiran Bedi Awards
- In 1979, the President’s Gallantry Award by Indian President.
- In 1981, National Solidarity Weekly, India presented Woman of the Year Award.
- 1991, IOGT (International Organisation of Good Templars) of Norway awarded her Asia Region Award for Drug Prevention and Control.
- In 1992, the International Woman Award.
- In 1994, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation honored her with Magsaysay Award.
- 1995, Don Bosco Shrine Office of Bombay in India respected her with Mahila Shiromani Award, Lion of the Year and Father Machismo Humanitarian Award.
- In 1999, AFMI (American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin) presented her Pride of India Award.
- In 2002, Blue Drop Group Management of Cultural and Artistic Association of Italy respected her with Woman of the Year Award.
- 2004, the United Nations gave her the United Nations Medal.
- In 2005, Harmony Foundation awarded her Mother Teresa Award for Social Justice.
- In 2007, Suryadatta Group of Institutes presented her Suryadatta National Award.
- 2009, Aaj Tak gave her Women Excellences Awards.
- 2010, she achieved Tarun Kranti Puraskar – 2010 in Women Empowerment Category given by Tarun Award Council.
- In 2011, Indian Institute of Planning and Management gave her Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar.
- In 2013, Rai University presented her Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public Service.