TELUGU
Inspiring role model
SAHASAME NA VUUPIRI — Kiran Bedi — Jeevita Charitra: D. Samrajyalakshmi — Tr. in Telugu of "I Dare, Kiran Bedi — A Biography by Paramesh Dangwal", Alakananda Prachuranalu, Opp. Maris Stella College, Vijayawada-520008. Rs. 150.
THIS BOOK narrates the fascinating story of an intrepid woman who reached the pinnacles of glory through sheer determination and dedication. Born as Kiran Peshawaria in 1949 at Amritsar, she became Bedi in 1972 after marrying Briz Bedi, a textile engineer. As the country's first lady IPS officer, she tackled difficult situations with courage and firmness.
In 1981, as Deputy Commissioner in Delhi, she implemented traffic rules without fear or favour earning the sobriquet "Crane Bedi". Besides taming a host of bigwigs, she did not spare even the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi's car.
Her tenure as IG of Prisons in Tihar Jail, where 8500 prisoners were lodged against its capacity of 2500 became a landmark in her career. Her reforms through education, employment and meditation metamorphosed prisoners into responsible citizens.
While Madanlal Khurana, the then Chief Minister of Delhi proclaimed, "I need Bedi's help for bringing out revolutionary changes in Delhi," Mother Teresa gave her a warm hug when she visited Kolkata. She indeed became a role model to aspiring young girls. Currently Bedi, winner of the prestigious Magsaysay award in 1994, is the U.N. Secretary General's Advisor for Civil Peacekeeping Forces.
Quite a few television serials and films have come based on her life. In a survey conducted by The Week in 2000, Bedi was adjudged as one of the respected Indians along with A.B.Vajpayee, Lata Mangeshkar and Amitabh Bachchan.
Photographs by Ajay Goel showing Kiran Bedi with celebrities like Indira Gandhi are a visual treat. Samrajya Lakshmi deserves praise for making the translation interesting.
P. V. L. N. RAO
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