THIS is a compilation of articles on problems and views that the author wrote for various newspapers. She has written other books also on what all she faced as India’s first and highest ranking police officer, who is also the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the founder of two non-governmental organisations – Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation.
Expressing her views on leadership, Kiran says that first we have ‘to learn to be led’ before we grow up to ‘lead others’. To bring about any change in the system, we need to begin from the top, be it in politics or administration. The usual practice is for administrators to wait for the politician’s command. “The former weigh the vote banks. But the truth is that the administrators can bring about changes if they want to” or if told to do so. Change begins with leadership. The more it is practiced, the more it will become productive. To be a visionary leader, there has to be a vision based on honesty, right intentions, and regular updating of knowledge. Such a person would believe in the power of the team and will constantly share and give.
Kiran Bedi is strongly in favour of empowerment of women and asks what use is this education and the so-called modernisation if the girls refuse to stand up for their rights? “No wonder then, that girls are still unwanted. The fault is our own.”
Referring to senior citizens and aged parents, she points out that parents spend all the years of their prime life, resources and energy in bringing up children. Tragically there is the preference for sons in our society, “but sons are letting down parents.” In a very pertinent question, she asks, “How about daughters (as groups) coming together to protect parents?”
Kiran not only served as an ideal police officer before retirement, but has even written books and talks with a strong conviction on political issues while challenging social injustices prevailing in the country.
(Sterling Paperbacks, A-59 Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-110 020; www.Sterlingpaperbacks.com)
