Discussion in the school about woman police officer - conversation

Teacher : [looking at the various cards] Your cards show that you have great love and respect for your mothers. I agree. Mothers are special, aren't they?

Selvam : How about the father, the head of the family?

Teacher : Yes, of course. Fathers are special, too. Your father is as responsible as your mother, for looking after you, and running the home. In different ways everyone in a family is the head of a home.

Selvam : Well, my father takes all the decisions at home. He says that is the traditional way. And my mother, simply nods her head.

Teacher : It might have been so. But times are changing, you know; and with it, we all must change.

lnian : I agree, Madam. My mother says that most men are unwilling to give women an equal chance. Shruti : I think everyone has to adjust. There has to be a give and take.

Radha :  That may be nice as an idea. But in reality that doesn’t happen.

Jamal : Why should it? In society if there has to be peace, people must accept their roles. Men and women can’t be equal.

Selvam : Both in us and around us, I don’t see any changes from the past.

Radha : If you have eyes to see, you can; if you have ears to hear, you can.
Teacher : Why are you speaking so angrily, Radha?

There was silence. As the teacher gently probed, the students shared what had happened.

Teacher :  It is interesting that you are sharing this today, when I am going to talk about one of the greatest women in the history of the Indian police force -Kiran Bedi. Selvam,don't you know that what you and your friends have been doing with your classmate is not right?

Selvam : But she is fat.

Radha : And his face does look like a monkey.

Selvam : [getting angry] Listen to what you say? You can never win in a fight with me.

Teacher : Calm down, both of you. Selvam, you started it. You have no right to pass an undignified comment or put down anyone else.

Shruti : But what Radha said was also not right, Madam.

Teacher : It isn't only about what people do is right or wrong. It is whether they create the space to be human.

Radha : How do you say so Madam? Sometimes there is no option but to fight!

Teacher : Yes Radha. But do see and take heart - the presence of women is everywhere today, in all walks of life; they compete with men and excel in all fields. Let us consider Kiran Bedi fora moment. Kiran Bedi was born in on 9 June, 1949 in Amritsar, Punjab, India. What do you know about her?

Inian : Madam. I read an article about Kiran Bedi — The Super Cop.  She is not only India's first woman Police Officer - she has a softer side to her as well - she has a family and a daughter called Saina.

Teacher : [smiling]Are you saying no policeman can be soft‘?

Jamal : There could be madam, but why do we call her a Super Cop?

Teacher : It is as the Inspector General of Prisons, Delhi that she is best remembered. She created the space for hardened criminals to become human again. Her work with the prisoners of Tihar Jail, one of the toughest places for any police ofiicer, will go down in Indian History as a hallmark of what a simple, dedicated, caring police officer can do. This is why, Kiran is called the Super Cop. She has been known for her humane attitude, indomitable will and fearless spirit.

Radha : But Madam, did she never react to injustice?

Teacher : Of course, she did. That is what made her the police officer that she was. See, my dear, when you meet with injustice, you can either retaliate, or tackle intelligently. Shruti, keeping quiet in the face of injustice is not intelligence.

Mary : I read in a news magazine that she had initiated several decisions particularly in the areas of drugs control, traffic management and VIP security. Madam, I always wonder - despite her being a lady IPS Officer of India, she did not find it hard to tackle law and order.

Teacher : Kiran Bedi worked by example. She believed in cooperating with people and she found that people co-operated with her. She worked harder and longer than the people around her and didn’t demand what she could not practice. Also, time management was her greatest asset as a child.
Radha : Okay, there is one Kiran Bedi. Are there any other women, Madam?

Teacher : You tell me.

Selvam : Kalpana Chawla.

Jamal : Sunita Williams.

Mary : Jhansi ki Rani.

Shruti : Ela Bhat - my mother says she has done a great deal for women's Self Help Groups(SHG).

Inian : Isn't she the woman who started SEWA in Gujarat?

Teacher : Yes! We come across many women leaders in all walks of life; for example the first citizen of our country is a woman at present.

Radha: I am also happy about the Women's Reservation Bill in Indua.

Selvam : Did Kiran Bedi win any award and laurels for her outstanding carrer?

Teacher : She won many awards lije the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1994, Asia Region Award for Drug Prevention and Control and the Jawaharlal Nehry Felloship for her work in Tihar Jail.

Selvam : It must have required so much of energy and will power. How did she achieve all these honours?
Teacher : She says that she devotes one-and-a-half hours everyday for physical excersies.

Radha : I hear that she had voluntarily retired from the Police force. What is the reason?

Teacher : After her retirement on 27th November 2007, she had taken on new challenges in life; she has also founded two Non-Governmental ORganizations (NGOs)in India. One is called Navjyoti for Preventive Policing in 1987 and the other is the India Vision Foundation for prison reformation, drug abuse prevention and child welfare in 1994.

Radha : Where can I know more about Kiran Bedi?

Teacher : Good question. She has launched a new website www.safeindua.com. You could also read her autobiography, 'I Dare. It's Always Possible'.

Radha : I just love the title!

Inian : Who inspired her?

Teacher : I think her spirit of nationalism inspiredher. Our freedom fighters Pt. Jawaharlal Nehry, Mahatma Gandhi, Subash Chandra Bose and Lala Lajpat Rai inspired her.

Radha : What is national spirit?
Teacher : Well, Radha, like a soldier who protects citizens at the border, a policeman protects them within the border. Kiran Bedi joined the police service to protects them within the border. Kiran Bedi joined the police service to protect and serve the poor and needy and her principle of service was to put down injustice. Her principle of service was to redeem justice and to create space for the human. The power, t he glamour, the uniform and status had no meaning for her.

Radha : Friends are supposed to stand by you - in good times and bad. This happens so rarely. How did she selected her friends?

Teacher : Well, she felt truthfulness can bring everything into one's life. In her own words, 'Honesty and truth are interrelated. Honesty is basically an expression of truth. There is no substitute for truth. Truth alone brings conviction'.