Kiran Bedi is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, social activist, and politician. Born on June 9, 1949, in Amritsar, Punjab, she distinguished herself as the first woman to join the IPS in 1972. Her career was marked by various challenging postings where she implemented innovative strategies to improve policing and community relations. She is widely recognized for her work in traffic management in Delhi, reducing crime in West Delhi, and reforming the Tihar Jail, where she introduced programs like meditation and education for inmates, earning her the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1994.

Throughout her career, Bedi held several key positions, including Inspector General of Prisons, Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau, and United Nations Civil Police Advisor. Her commitment to justice and social reform often put her at odds with political establishments, but she remained steadfast in her principles. She took voluntary retirement from the IPS in 2007 to focus on social activism and writing.

Postretirement, Bedi continued her work through her NGO, India Vision Foundation, focusing on issues such as education, healthcare, and vocational training for the underprivileged. She also became a prominent figure in the anticorruption movement in India. In 2015, she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and served as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate for the Delhi Assembly elections. Although she did not win the election, she continued to be involved in public service. From 2016 to 2021, she served as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. Bedi's life and career have been characterized by her dedication to public service, her innovative approach to policing, and her unwavering commitment to social justice.