( I Dare: Kiran Bedi - A Review)
This is not much of a book review, for some
books do not require a review. A biography is worth reading only if the person
it describes has done something substantial to positively transform the world. And,
Kiran Bedi has always been (and continues to be) one among such change agents.
The reason why I read this book is this video. It suddenly struck me that how different her life would have been
compared to the young women of twenty-first century. And, when I read the book,
I was amazed, and realized that this TED Talk was just a teaser of the amazing
story of her life and career. It is a book filled with anecdotes that will make
you loath our ruling class and the corrupt practices that have become the shackles
of our governance. But, it will also give you strength, belief and hope that
things can be changed and it is not really difficult. There are good people all
around who require a leader with integrity to guide them.
Hence, begins the story of such a leader, Kiran
bedi, who was brought up in the 1960s. She was extremely fortunate to have parents,
who allowed her to study and participate in sports. She often attributes a lot
of her abilities to tennis. In Chapter 32, she says “For greater all round development, both reading and sports play a
strengthening role in making a child excel in life.” She firmly believes
that any individual has to take charge of his/her life, for “...people who do not take charge of their
lives are lathicharged by time.”
The book also depicts a more vivid picture of
how she got the Prime Minister’s car tolled away and got an epithet, “Crane
Bedi”. She never felt that VIPs were more important than public, and often took
actions that would outrage the ruling class and her seniors. For her, the
decisions were governed only by what was right.
During her career, she came up with many innovative models and solutions like Beat Officer and Community Policing (the model which
also finds mention in Porus Munshi’s Book titled “Making BreakthroughInnovations Happen”). She transformed Tihar Jail and its correctional facilities. By providing vocational training and education, and organizing Vipassana meditation camps, she transformed the lives of the prisoners. As a
result, she was awarded the Ramon-Magsaysay Award. She also started and continues to contribute
to her NGOs, Navjyoti and Indian Vision Foundation.
She was once responsible for ensuring that 1600
promotions were granted in a single day to those who had been (unfortunately) waiting for around
six years.
I can recount various interesting lines and
anecdotes from the book. But, I would not tell them here, for saying a lot
would take away the delight of reading the book. Read it yourself and get
inspired by it. And, recommend it to those who want to transform their lives.
