Kiran Bedi, an Indian politician, social activist, retired police officer and tennis player, was born on 9 June 1949. She recently served as the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry from 28 May 2016 to 16 February 2021.
The first Indian female to become an officer in the Indian Police Service, she started her service in 1972 and remained in service for 35 years before taking voluntary retirement in 2007 as Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development.
A few interesting facts about the first Indian female to become an officer in the Indian Police Service:
Kiran Bedi was born in a well-to-do Punjabi business family in Amritsar.
Bedi’s was brought up in both Hindu and Sikh traditions.
She was educated in a Christian school- Sacred Heart Convent.
Bedi was participated in National Cadet Corps (NCC) among other extra-curricular activities.
During Bedi’s schooling days, her school did not offer science, and offered a subject called “household” which was aimed at grooming girls into good housewives. So when she was in class 9, she joined Cambridge College, a private institute which offered science education and prepared her for matriculation exam.
Bedi, inspired by her father, started playing tennis at the tender age of nine.
She frequented the Service Club in Amritsar, where interaction with civil servants inspired her to crack public service exam.
Kiran met her future husband Brij Bedi on tennis courts of Amritsar. Brij, who was nine years older than her, played university-level tennis at the time.
Together they have a daughter named Sukriti. The two have lived separately for most of their married life.
Bedi’s first posting was at the Chanakyapuri subdivision of Delhi in 1975.
As she took oath as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry on 29 May, 2016, she broke convention by addressing the gathering at the path ceremony.
