IPMX @ IIM Lucknow

Dr. Kiran Bedi

Last month, we had the privilege to listen to Dr Kiran Bedi, as part of our Leadership talk series. Being the first woman IPS officer, Dr Bedi has been a role model and an icon to many of us and we all were waiting for her lecture with much anticipation. And boy, did she deliver!!

For my part I was really curious to know how a career Police woman would talk to us about the finer nuances of management. To say that it was a real enlightening experience would not be an exaggeration.


She shared her experiences on her tenure as IG Prisons of Tihar Jail - how she brought about reforms in the management of the prison, and initiated number of measures such as detoxification programs, yoga, redressing of complaints by prisoners and even literacy programs. In just about two years she took up a sick organization (if a jail can be so called) and turned it around into a self sustaining and humane organization.

When she took over as IG prisons the prison was a stinking place, literally, as MCD had stopped its cleaning operations in lieu of unpaid bills. An ingenious idea to treat this waste to make manure not only solved the problem of waste disposal but also helped in growing fresh vegetables for the prison Kitchen. This was one of the many measures which she brought about to transform an apathetic government enterprise to a well run professional organization. Leading by example, she started taking rounds of the prison facilities regularly, pointing out the deficiencies and problems in notices pasted on information boards. Her active interest forced her subordinates to emulate her and to take up corrective actions so that on the next round the highlighted issues were taken care of. She started complaint redressing programs, literacy and counselling programs for the prisoners. This was aimed at gaining the prisoners confidence and to make them shun the path of crime once free. Because according to Dr Bedi, the purpose of the prison is not just to house and punish the criminals but to reform them and make them better citizens. Though she admitted the process was not that easy or simple but it had really started showing results and a number of criminals on leaving prison were reformed, law abiding citizens.

As a good leader she also developed second rung leaders, giving them autonomy, appreciation and due credit, so that 15 years after her leaving her position, the good work is continuing and Tihar prison is still citied as a case-study for prison reforms.

Apart from her stint as IG, Tihar she shared other experiences as well and stressed a lot on “sharpening ones axe” continuously and to always be in touch with lowest level of execution as mantras for success. She also impressed on the importance of keeping a balance between ones professional and personal life.

Her experiences brought forth a number of things to us. She proved that innovative thinking can help to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers. Also it is possible to have a humane side to management and still be immensely successful and profitable. If one has the will and the determination then the so called “chalta hai” attitude prevailing in lots of walks of our lives can also be tackled. By the time Dr Bedi finished her talk, I am sure there was not a single one of us who was not motivated and inspired by her incredible zeal and positivity to become not only inspirational mangers but above that better human beings.

Posted on behalf of Neha Saxena