Some people have a power to make a difference and she definitely is one of them.
I had heard about her in media and from people but meeting her in person, made me more certain , that she is an amazing personality with a positive aura and immense capacity to inspire people. It was a Sunday , on 3rd Oct 2004 , at Wilde Auditorium in Hartford-Connecticut , where kiran bedi was welcomed on behalf of a women’s group SNEHA, to make a difference in people’s life. I went with an excitement of meeting and knowing her more. Many people gathered outside the auditorium to meet her.She entered the room with grace and a beautiful smile, wearing a black full sleeve shirt and a grey half sleeve coat over it, with grey pants and black shoes. She is ready all the time, be her career or such occasions.Everyone around, got a chance, to interact and click pictures with her.I did the same ,purchased a book authored by her “I DARE” and requested her to sign it up for me.She was available to everyone with a welcoming smile and warmth.
She received many compliments from guests gathered in the conference. One of the guest ,an American delegate , inquired the meaning of the word "KIRAN" , Kiran replied "SUN SHINE ", she noted it down and then latter commented in her welcoming speech for Kiran , that she knows why it is shinning today because "KIRAN" is here. Indeed ,some people have the capability of turning around the environment and atmosphere into warmth and compassion.
The Guest speakers spoke about kiran’s achievements and accolades. Every speech made me more impatient to listen to her speech. She was welcomed by Dr.Vohra,a reputed person in the field of POLITICAL SCIENCE , subject mastered by Kiran Bedi and an appropriate person to welcome her.She walked on the podium with vigour, took the mike and moved away from the dias. She wanted to be completely transparent and started the speech by thanking people who invited her for this occasion. She spoke about her family, birth, sisters, schooling, subjects, career and challenges she faced in her life.
She ventured into a male dominated profession , without doubting her conviction and brought changes in the society and police department . She changed the entire picture of policing by culturing and training people under her. The sales liquor went down under her supervision , and the scene of TIHAR JAIL changed completely. She spoke about her life , without pride, but more of modesty and humility and fire of striking the unjust. She faced a lot of challenges and politicians made several attempts to transfer her but nothing could deter her conviction , their efforts were futile. Every sentence delivered by her , represented a clear picture of her high standards in morals, education, conviction and conscience. Her speech had depth, gravity and attraction.
She presented a succinct and poignant documentary , out of one of her many social programs ,in TIHAR JAIL . Women prisoners ,while serving their sentence in tihar jail , could legitimately,take the custody of the child, resulting in the child being a captive with his mother .She considered this situation as a primal case , and benevolently started a program to provide the children with proper food, education, clothes, sanitation and counselling. The children are admitted , later on, to the mainstream schools, where they are provided with good facilities like an appropriate hostel for accomodation and good education. They are given counselling, encouraging them to become a productive citizen of the society.This disclosed the subtle side of Kiran bedi, a thoughtful , benign and a role model for the society.
After her speech , there was a Question and Answer round. Everyone got a chance to ask her questions and thus learn from her. The round was fabulous and she had answers for all. She was questioned about politics, terrisom, education, society and physcology and she answered all of it so well. Her knowledge and vocabulary is profound and diversified and her answers were terse and to the point. She gave many good suggestions and right on the spot.
One of the student, congratulated and requested her to give advice to the present youth.Kiran replied spontaneously, " MAKE YOUR CAREER A CAUSE". This line is concise but complete and self explanatory.
I admire and revere her fearless resolute and a complete belief in herself . She loves challenges and her fearless attitude , got her acknowledged , as the recipient of the MAGASAYSAY award and ambassador of UN.She is currently deployed in a project at Haiti where she is providing solutions in the policing department for the UN.
We all should be a learner in life and learn from people like KIRAN BEDI that life is way beyond family,career,money and self. It is more of giving than taking. If we educate our children from their formative years ,that giving is everything , then we can develop into a compassionate society.Current generation , has role models as public entertainers and their negligence in morality , is a great loss of principles. The essence of life is forgotten when we choose them as our inspiration. We drift away from the right track, if we don’t have an ideal role model, a person who inspires us to do a lot for others.
Lets us learn and be of service to people around us and people in distress.
Let us Dare like KIRAN BEDI to pass hurdles of life and emerge as a winner.
----Reply from Kiran Bedi:
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 Kiran Bedi wrote :
thanku Bhumika....i have really liked the article...and am grateful to you for thinking this way....i am honoured..... who have you written this for?....and tell me more about u...are u a regular writer...?..with love kiran .
